MBABANE:Sibongile Mazibuko,the former President of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers(SNAT) has called for the immediate removal of King Mswati as the Chancellor of the University of Eswatini(UNESWA),accusing the absolute Monarch of being behind the collapse of the institution of higher learning.
Speaking to this Swaziland News on Tuesday,Mazibuko who is now the President of the Ngwane National Liberatory Congress(NNLC) wondered why King Mswati elevated himself into the position of Chancellor as Heads of State in other countries are not holding the same position.She was sharing a view after being asked by this publication to comment about the decision by Education Minister Owen Nxumalo to appoint a Task Team led by Ubombo Sugar Limited Managing Director Muzi Siyaya.
The Task Team has been mandated by Cabinet to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collapse of the institution of higher learning and subsequently compile a comprehensive report with recommendations on the measures that could be implemented to revive it.
“I’ve been instructed by Cabinet to announce the Task Team that will investigate the challenges within the University”, said the Education and Training Minister this week.
But NNLC President Mazibuko described the appointment of the Task Team as a waste of time,accusing the Tinkhundla regime of pretending to be not aware that Mswati was actually behind the collapse of the University.
“It’s a waste of time to appoint a Task Team and investigate because we know where the problem is,the King must be removed as the Chancellor and the University must be independent.Even if you can appoint highly qualified individuals to administrate that University,they can’t take decisions without consulting the King.Highly educated professionals are made to sit outside the Palace waiting in a queue to meet the King,seeking approval before taking decisions, how can you run a University like that?.Ramaphosa is not the Chancellor of the University of Cape Town,why did the King elevated himself to be UNESWA Chancellor?. The University must be autonomous or independent so that decisions could be taken by professionals not the King”, she said.
The NNLC President said,some years ago while the University was still financially stable and rated as one of the best in the African continent,students including herself were receiving twenty-eight thousand Rands(R28,000.00) as an allowance.
Mazibuko consistently maintained that,the Tinkhundla regime “has an agenda to destroy the University” and the entire education system so that, a large percentage of the population could be uneducated, ignorant and with no ability to challenge the authorities or the Government.
But King’s Spokesperson Percy Simelane criticized the NNLC President for calling for the King’s removal as the UNESWA Chancellor, he said the King was not appointed by Sibongile Mazibuko into the position.
The King’s Spokesperson further dismissed the allegations suggesting that,the King was responsible for the collapse of the now financially struggling institution of higher learning.
“We are used to accusations levelled against the King without evidence of his involvement and we believe the king won’t be shaken by Sibongile Mazibuko’s smash and grab submissions.A lion does not lose any sleep over decisions made against it by goats and rabits.She is not a Godess of politics or administration and there is no way she can remove a king she did not appoint.Like in many other institutions that recieve subvention from government the University university in question has been accused of siphoning funds for personal use.The King has no access to University funds”, said the King’s Spokesperson.
Gabie Ndukuya is the President of the Swaziland National Union of Students(SNUS) and when responding to this publication,she first applauded the Minister’s decision to announce the Task Team however,she emphasized that,the University needed money.
“The Task Team is a must because there are allegations suggesting that,the Management is misappropriating funds so,the Task Team will verify those allegations and come-up with accountability strategies.But even before we have the Task Team,let’s have the money to financially stabilize the University so that operations can continue while the Task Team conducts its duties”,said the Students Union President.
King Mswati.