By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:Owen Nxumalo, the Minister of Education and Training allegedly proposed that, Government must pay the President of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers(SNAT) his over five hundred thousand Rands(R500,000.00) outstanding salaries and further reinstate him as per the order of the Industrial Court.

But Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini is against the decision, he allegedly said, the matter must be intensified in court to teach Mbongwa Dlamini a lesson.

Worth-noting and as reported by this Swaziland News, the Education Minister clashed with the Prime Minister inside Cabinet last week, Nxumalo was intervening after the PM bullied Information Minister Savannah Maziya.

But information subsequently emerged suggesting that,the PM was against Owen Nxumalo’s alleged proximity to the teachers union.

The Education Minister had publicly declared that, he was working towards the reinstatement of the SNAT President but, “the are procedures that must be followed as the matter was in court. He was addressing teachers who delivered a petition to the Ministry of Education, demanding the reinstatement of their President.

“I will work on this issue, give me some-time,” said the Education and Training Minister when addressing the teachers.

But when opening-up to other Cabinet Ministers close to him on the subject matter, Minister Nxumalo allegedly said, by “creating warm relations with SNAT, his approach is for the benefit of the country” and the King.

“He is very strategic and matured, he told me that SNAT is a huge trade union with the largest membership in the country therefore, it’s important to treat the union as a stakeholder not an enemy. As a former trade union leader as a loyal supporter to His Majesty, he believes, peace and stability must be maintained through dialogue. Waze watsi “phela wabamba SNAT waba happy nga-Hulumende, sobambe lelive socedzile, ungacali ulwe na-SNAT hlala naye phansi nibonisane nangabe tikhalo tingu-ten(10) ulungise timbili bese utsi ngisayolungisa leletinye, noma songahamba liwonkhe batawube ba-happy kutsi uyabalalela nabakhala hhayi kubalwisa,”said one of the Cabinet Minister.

The Cabinet Minister described Nxumalo as a very strategic, intelligent and politically matured Minister adding that, if the PM was wise, “he could have used Owen Nxumalo to unite the Cabinet as the Education Minister is very good in lobbying and uniting people”.

Another source within the corridors of power told this publication that, “the Prime Minister is so divisive such that, at some point, he was supposed to sign an international trip for the Education Minister”, but remembered that, Owen Nxumalo was more closer to Deputy Prime Minister(DPM) Thuli Dladla.

“He then summoned the Education Minister wahlala naye phansi, watsi “ngiyabona lana kumele ngisayine your international trip, kodvwa ngingaka-sayini asongichazele. Ungakuphi mbamba-mbamba wena, ungaku-DPM noma ungakimi?,” said the insider.

Thabile Mdluli, the Acting Government Spokesperson had not responded at the time of compiling this report.

Responding to this Swaziland News earlier, Lot Vilakati, the SNAT Secretary General clarified that, the trade union does not have a permanent relationship with the Education Minister adding that, “teachers are appreciating his ongoing efforts” to transform and improve the education system.

“It is important to clarify that, we don’t have a relationship with anyone in Cabinet not even the Education Minister. But, teachers are appreciating Owen Nxumalo after he demonstrated a desire to improve and transform the education system including their lives. Owen Nxumalo is the first Education Minister to allow teachers to participate in their Teachers Day and he did not end there but, graced the event. He also appointed a Committee to investigate if the current education system is still relevant. Yabona wena Nkhosi tisebenti atiyuze tibe ne-relationship neMcashi ngoba the interests are not the same kodvwa tiyaye timjabulele vele uMcashi uma tibona enta imitamo to improve their lives, the relationship is always temporary not permanent. Teachers were very happy to see their Minister gracing the Teachers Day event and to allow them to celebrate their Day. So if the Prime Minister wants to see change of attitude towards him, he must just approve a salary review, urge Government to respect court orders reinstating President Mbongwa Dlamini and further introduce policies promoting the rights of the workers,” said the SNAT Secretary General.