By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:Luke Lushaba,the Chief Fire Officer(CFO) is allegedly one of the masterminds behind the Government delay,in releasing the long overdue overtime allowances for firefighters.

Lushaba who is highly expected to retire in the coming few weeks and, had earlier threatened firefighters that, they won’t receive their payments while “he is still holding the Chief Fire Officer position,” wrote to all Station Officers via the Management whatsap group, directing them not to endorse or sign the overtime allowances claim forms.

According to a Government payment procedure, the overtime allowances cannot be processed for payments without the signatures of the Station Officers and, the Chief Fire Officer.

The Industrial Court ruled that,firefighters must be paid their long overdue allowances before the end of July 2025 and as a result, Dr. Simon Zwane,the Principal Secretary(PS) in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, wrote a minute directing CFO Luke Lushaba to comply with the court order.

But according to whatsapp messages seen by this Swaziland News, the Chief Fire Officer allegedly pretended to be working on the matter while on the other hand, advising Station Officers to intentionally commit a blunder by not signing the forms so that,the payment process could be halted.

“Good afternoon Management, to all Station Officers and Officers in charge of Stations: you are kindly advised to accept all overtime claims submitted to your offices be it factor of 1.5 or 2, check if the days corresponds with the OB and working schedule against each officer and do not endorse any of forms”, reads a message sent to Management whatsApp group.

Luke Lushaba, the Chief Fire Officer, declined to comment about the matter.

Reached for comments by this Swaziland News on Monday evening, Bawinile Ndlovu, the President of the National Public Service and Allied Workers Union(NAPSAWU) said, she was also aware of the systematic plot by the Chief Fire Officer to defy the Industrial Court order.

“I'm aware that Station Officers were told by Chief Fire Officer not to sign the claim forms and as a Union we're watching them so closely.The judgements has some timelines, we want to believe that both parties will comply,” said the NAPSAWU President.