MBABANE: Jabez Private School Management has informed parents to keep their children at home with effect from Monday amid the political uncertainty in the country.
This comes after the pro-democracy Swaziland International Solidarity Forces(SISF) urged teachers to close schools to pave way for an operation that is expected to intensify this week.
“Good evening parents and learners. Due to the uncertainties of how things may turn up tomorrow, we urge all learners to stay at home until further notice. Reports will be issued as planned on Friday the 12th of August. Our sincere apologies for communicating late. We were busy doing consultation throughout the day to come up with an informed way forward,” reads a message sent to parents and learners on Sunday evening.
A parent who spoke to this publication said his children won’t be attending classes tomorrow.
My children would be at home for safety, the Management of the school sent us that message to ensure that our children are at home and safe,” said the parent whose name cannot be revealed for ethical reasons.
Efforts to reach the school Management for a comment proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.
The decision by Jabez Private School comes shortly after Mbongwa Dlamini, the President of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers(SNAT) urged all teachers to stay at home for their own safety.
“We advise that teachers must stay at home for their own safety with effect from tomorrow(Monday). As SNAT, we will continue with monitoring the situation and communicate accordingly if it’s safe for our members to report for duty on Tuesday. We wrote a letter to the Education Minister seeking assurance for safety in schools and the Minister responded assuring us that security would be provided. However, we are not convinced because even police officers are a target, so it’s better to stay at home while we monitor the situation,” said the SNAT President when speaking to this Swaziland News editor on Sunday.
On another note, Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo released a statement assuring the Nation that security would be provided adding that it would be business as usual.
“Heads of Security forces have assured the entire Nation of its safety and the protection of their property against harm by elements of insurgency,” said the Government Spokesperson in a public statement released on Sunday.
The Spokesperson of the pro-democracy Swaziland International Solidarity Forces(SISF) told this Swaziland News that members of the Underground Unit were already inside eSwatini to conduct operations on specific targets.
The Underground Unit issued a command to Mswati to democratize and gave Government an ultimatum that elapsed on Sunday evening, more deadly attacks are expected this week.
Tension is escalating in this tiny Kingdom after King Mswati refused to engage those calling for democratic reforms in a political dialogue and subsequently unleashed his police officers and soldiers to shoot and kill dozens of protesting civilians.
A message sent to parents and learners by Jabez Private School Management.