Armed police once again entered college campuses in
Swaziland as students across the kingdom boycotted classes in protest against
unpaid government allowances and poor educational standards.
On Monday (2 October 2017) a police officer was badly
injured when a stun grenade he held exploded in his hand.
Police were at the kingdom’s state university, the
University of Swaziland (UNISWA); the private university, Limkokwing; and also
at the William Pitcher teacher training college.
Campuses have been closed and reopened across
Swaziland several times since the semester began nearly two months ago. The Government had
promised to pay all allowances by the end of September but this had not been
done. Swaziland, which is ruled by King Mswati III, who is sub-Saharan Africa’s
last absolute monarch, is in financial crisis. Bills to suppliers remain unpaid
and government health facilities have run out of drugs.
At UNISWA, which reopened after the administration
sent students home following a class boycott, students were told that the
mid-semester break and reading week had been cancelled in order to make up for
lost time. The university has banned the Student Representative Council (SRC)
from holding meetings.
The Swazi
Observer reported on Tuesday (3 October 2017),
‘Sakhile
Ndzimandze who is the Secretary General for the dissolved SRC informed students
about the latest developments saying that the university decided to send them
home for raising genuine concerns and have again called them back to class. He
said they were worried that none of their concerns including allowances were
addressed but instead the university added petrol into a blazing flame.’
The William Pitcher Teacher Training College was closed on Monday after students boycotted classes. College administrators immediately issued a memorandum informing them that they should vacate the premises. Armed police were called to escort students from the college.
The William Pitcher Teacher Training College was closed on Monday after students boycotted classes. College administrators immediately issued a memorandum informing them that they should vacate the premises. Armed police were called to escort students from the college.
The Times of Swaziland reported that an
officer from the riot squad the Operational Support Service Unit (OSSU) injured
his hand at Limkokwing University of Creative Technology when a stun grenade prematurely went off.
It said, ‘There were fears that the officer might have had his hand
chopped off, judging from the intensity of the blast. It went off as some
students stood near the institution’s gate while others were singing and
chanting by Ka-Sonny Shopping Complex.’
Last week the Swaziland College of Technology (SCOT) was closed after
student protests. The Swaziland Christian Medical University remains closed after the
Ministry of Education ruled did not meet
approved standards.
See
also
ARMED
POLICE END STUDENT PROTEST
STUDENTS ARRESTED AT COURT HOUSE
SWAZI STUDENT LEADERS ARRESTED
POLICE
‘TORTURE’ STUDENTS IN CELLS
PROTESTS
CLOSE SWAZILAND UNIVERSITY
https://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/protests-close-swaziland-university.html
No comments:
Post a Comment