Only one week after King
Mswati III of Swaziland publicly declared his support for higher education in
his kingdom, it is reported that his Government has not paid monies it promised
one of the newest universities and it cannot pay salaries.
King Mswati, who rules
Swaziland as sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, and hand-picks the
Swazi Government, said in his speech at the opening of parliament that his kingdom now had a ‘huge challenge to
develop more institutions of higher learning for our youth in the country that
will be affordable to parents and of high quality’.
He added, ‘Therefore,
government should upgrade our colleges into universities as this is in line
with our decentralisation policy.’
However, the reality in
his kingdom is proving to be rather different. Media in Swaziland have reported
the Swaziland Christian University at Mahwalala, which specialises in
health-based programmes, has had to delay paying its staff wages and salaries.
The Observer on Saturday newspaper
reported (28 February 2015), ‘This
was disclosed by the university’s bursar Lusekwane Dlamini through an internal
memorandum which was issued on Wednesday.’
The newspaper reported
the memo said, ‘This memo serves to inform you that salaries for this month
will be delayed due to the current financial situation faced by the university.’
The newspaper added, ‘According
to highly placed sources, the school administration is accusing government of
failing to render their salaries. They are alleging that government promised to
give them E27 million [US$2.7 million] which was not met.’
It reported Minister of
Education and Training Dr Phineas Magagula saying there was no money at the
moment. He said the Government had paid the university E3m at the beginning of
the year.
Last Month (February 2015), it was reported that armed
police raided the university’s campus after students
boycotted classes. There were protesting about a shortage of lecturers and
inadequate teaching facilities.
It was also reported that
25 female students from the university had been
raped in the past year. Students
blamed the university for not providing them with secure accommodation.
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