By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE: “Headteachers and Regional Education Officers(REOs) who will victimize teachers for staying at home on Monday and Tuesday will be dealt with accordingly”.

These were sentiments of the Swaziland International Solidarity Forces(SISF) Spokesperson when asked by this Swaziland News to clarify on what would happen to Headteachers and REOs who would compile reports and victimize teachers.

“Any Headteacher who will compile a report and the REO who will act on it, then we will have to deal with that because those are counter-revolutionaries and we are not going to accept that. They shouldn’t allow themselves to be used to victimise people who are demanding change,” said the Spokesperson of the Solidarity Forces.

The sentiments from the Spokesperson come after Government through the offices of the Regional Education Officers (REO's) ordered Headteachers to provide feedback on schools operations. 

Speaking to this Swaziland News on Monday, the SNAT President confirmed that most schools were closed for safety reasons adding that Government should follow the law when dealing with this matter.

“We would like to warn Government against intimidating our members who were not at work. Section 18 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act clearly stipulates that an employee has a right to remove himself from danger and be entitled to full pay”,said the SNAT President. 

In a memorandum released on Monday, Manzini REO Sizwe Kunene requested all Headteachers in the region to provide feedback on  schools operations.

“This should include(a)Attendance by educators,(b) Attendance by the learners  (c)Comments on teaching and learning process,” reads the memo in part.

Bhekithemba Gama, the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Education had not responded to our questions at the time of compiling this report.

Eswatini is in the midst of a political unrest after King Mswati unleashed his forces to shoot and kill dozens of civilians merely for demanding democratic reforms.