By Bongiwe Dlamini

KWALUSENI:Government is behind the delay in the payment of salaries and other financial challenges at the University of Eswatini(UNESWA), Dr. Mduduzi Shongwe, the Secretary General of the Association of Lecturers, Academic and Administrative Personnel(ALAAP) told this Swaziland News on Tuesday afternoon.

The ALAAP Secretary General stated that, “life is literally a struggle for Lecturers and other workers” within the institution of higher learning amid the consistent delays in the payment of salaries not to mention, the non-remittance of their deducted medical insurance monies among other challenges.He was clarifying the reasons behind the decision by the Lecturers and other workers not to report for duty on Wednesday and onwards until their salaries are paid. This comes after the UNESWA Administration released a memo, informing the workers that, their salaries will be delayed again.

“Government is behind the ongoing financial challenges within the University, we are a State University and rely on the subvention for operations including the payment of salaries. So Government was previously releasing the money quarterly but later stopped. This means the UNESWA Management cannot afford to pay salaries on time if the subversion is delayed by Government”,said the ALAAP Secretary General.

Education Minister Owen Nxumalo declined to comment regarding this matter.

The State owned institution of higher learning has been facing financial challenges in the absence of a political will to fund operations of the University and, Government has been systematically reducing the budget for the University and, the consistent delays in the payment of scholarships for students. 

But, the Government has been blaming corruption as the only source of the challenges within the institution of higher learning.

On the another hand, Richard Masuku, the UNESWA Acting Registrar told the State owned radio on Wednesday morning that Government “is fully behind the financial challenges within the University”.

The Acting Registrar who was interviewed by Eswatini Broadcasting and Information Services(EBIS) journalist Nonhlanhla Gama, came hard on Education Minister Owen Nxumalo who allegedly claimed ignorance of the situation at the University.

“It’s true that, the University is owing some suppliers but, as an institution we are also owed by Government. I would make an example;Government was supposed to pay scholarships for students in August,it’s November now without any payment.These are the people who are accusing us of collapsing the University when they know very well that,Government is not releasing the money to fund the institution.Ngiye ngive kutsiwa asisukhombana kutsi bani akenzi ukuthi bani akenzi ukuthi. Kuba yinkinga-ke Gama uma sizawuthi masiphendvula tsine kutsiwe asusikhombana,kanti tsine siyakhontjwa.Ngiko-ke ngitsi asikhulume leliciniso-ke nyalo siboshwe nangabe siyaboshwa”, said the Acting UNESWA Registrar.

The Acting Registrar said, “theres no way Lecturers and other workers could report for duty without receiving salaries”.