By Ncaba Ntshakala
The University of Eswatini (UNESWA) has resumed normal operations following a severe water crisis that forced the institution to shut down its Kwaluseni campus earlier this week.
The Eswatini Water Services Corporation (ESWC) had cut off the water supply, allegedly due to the university’s ongoing financial struggles.
On Monday, UNESWA issued a memorandum instructing students and staff to vacate the campus. This unexpected closure also disrupted ongoing supplementary examinations, which have now been postponed indefinitely.
The university’s memorandum stated, “Kindly be advised that the Senate, at its meeting held on Monday 20 May 2024, resolved that all classes for Kwaluseni Campus full-time and IDE students should be suspended effective Tuesday 21 May, 2024 due to the ongoing water supply challenges.
ALSO READ: UNESWA braces for major leadership…
The Senate further resolved that the Re-sit Examinations scheduled for Wednesday, 22 May 2024 be moved to a future date to be announced. Any inconvenience caused is regretted.”
The water supply issue has since been resolved, as confirmed by Acting Registrar Richard Masuku during an interview with the Eswatini Broadcasting and Information Services (EBIS).
Masuku credited Vice Chancellor Justice Thwala for appealing to the Ministry of Education and Training, whose intervention was crucial in restoring the water supply.
However, Masuku did not specify who from the Ministry communicated with the ESWC to facilitate the reconnection.
Despite the resolution of the immediate crisis, Masuku highlighted the university’s ongoing financial difficulties. He pointed out that UNESWA receives little amount compared to what it needs to run smoothly.
The University receives over E400 million annually from the government but it is allegedly that it requires approximately E600 million to function effectively.
The university is also reportedly in arrears with its electricity bill to the Eswatini Electricity Company.
Ngcebo Hlophe, an educator, expressed concern about the university’s deteriorating reputation due to these financial issues.
“UNESWA, the only national university in the country, has been turned into a laughingstock.
I hope the Minister swiftly unveils the committee which will investigate the institution’s issues and how things can be turned around,” Hlophe stated.
He urged the Minister of Education and Training, Owen Nxumalo, to expedite the formation of the committee promised to address the university’s financial and operational challenges.
Earlier this year, UNESWA staff threatened to halt examination processes after the University failed to pay them in time.
The delays in salaries forced the Association of Lecturers, Academic and Administrative Personnel (ALAAP) to engage in a week-long labour dispute with the University management led by Professor Justice Thwala.
ALSO READ: UNESWA empowers youth in engineering…
At the heart of the dispute was ALAAP’s demand for the resignation of the current management team. “That following two joint correspondences (dated 05 June 2023; Ref: ANC002/2023 and 30 March 2023; Ref: ANC001/2023) from NAWUSHI and ALAAP to Council on the vote of no confidence on the entire Management of the University,
The current Management is given seven calendar days to resign en masse, failing which, ALAAP members will not continue with teaching and learning activities under the current Management.”
Reads part of the demands that were tabled by ALAAP before the Association and the Management smoked a peace pipe.
Reports asserts that since 2008, the university has grappled with a widening budget deficit, struggling to sustain itself even with the government’s annual subvention and student tuition fees.
This chronic shortfall has resulted in delayed payments, infrastructure deterioration, and resource limitations, impacting both staff morale and the overall quality of education offered.
The University of Eswatini is the only national university in the Kingdom of Eswatini. It was established by an Act of Parliament in 1982. The University developed from the University of Botswana, Lesotho
Swaziland, formerly known as the University of Basutoland, Bechuanaland, and Swaziland, which was established in 1964. It has a current enrolment of 7,478 students with 55 Undergraduate Programmes and 25 Postgraduate Programmes.
