by Ncaba Ntshakala
Shocking!
The University of Eswatini (UNESWA) is grappling with serious governance challenges stemming from a leadership style perceived as dictatorial by the Chairpersons of the University Council.
This leadership approach has permeated all levels of the institution, affecting decision-making, financial management, and academic operations.
The Task Team appointed by Minister of Education and Training Owen Nxumalo in August 2024 to investigate the university’s state of affairs has revealed a troubling picture of unilateral decision-making, accountability failures, and operational inefficiencies.
One of the most alarming findings is the extent to which past and present Chairpersons have overstepped their mandates, effectively sidelining the Vice-Chancellor and other senior managers.
The Task Team’s report notes cases where Chairpersons made unilateral procurement decisions, including the controversial purchase of a fire truck whose disposal remains unaccounted for.
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Additionally, recruitment processes have been manipulated, with individuals appointed without adherence to established policies, resulting in a bloated wage bill that further cripples the university financially.
Even in day-to-day operations, the Chairpersons’ influence is evident according to the report.
A past Chairperson reportedly denied the current Vice-Chancellor access to a Mercedes vehicle left by a previous Pro-Vice-Chancellor, instead instructing him to use a Toyota Corolla.
This overreach extends beyond vehicles, with the Council’s involvement in human resources decisions undermining institutional processes.
The Task Team’s report highlights that resistance to these irregularities is often met with punitive action. Officers in the Human Resources Department who questioned these recruitment practices were transferred to other departments, making way for non-compliant hires.
Such governance failures have weakened UNESWA’s ability to function effectively, and the report warns that without urgent intervention, the institution risks further deterioration.
Council’s oversight failures leave UNESWA vulnerable
The University Council, which is responsible for oversight and governance at UNESWA, has failed to provide the necessary accountability structures, allowing governance failures to persist unchecked.
The Task Team’s interim report reveals that the Council lacks formalized mechanisms to monitor and evaluate its own performance, as well as that of the senior management team.
Despite the enactment of the Public Enterprises (Control and Monitoring) Act of 1989, which was designed to enhance oversight of public institutions, UNESWA has remained largely unaccountable.
The Council, which is supposed to be answerable to Parliament through the Ministry of Education, operates with minimal scrutiny.
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This lack of oversight has resulted in unresolved audit findings accumulating year after year without corrective action.
The absence of a performance management system for the Council and senior management has further exacerbated governance issues.
Without clear evaluation metrics, it is difficult to enforce accountability or measure the effectiveness of leadership at the university.
The report emphasizes that this weakness has enabled financial mismanagement and operational inefficiencies to persist.
Oversized and ineffective council bleeds University resources
Another critical issue highlighted by the Task Team is the size and inefficiency of the University Council.
With 24 members, the Council is significantly larger than recommended under the Public Enterprises Act, which suggests a maximum of nine members for efficient governance.
The bloated structure has led to protracted decision-making processes, with up to 18 meetings held in a single year which is three times the statutory limit.
The financial cost of this inefficiency is substantial. Council members receive monthly retainer fees and allowances for each meeting, which has placed an additional financial strain on UNESWA’s already limited resources.
The report notes that despite the existence of subcommittees such as the Audit and Finance Committees, their work has had little impact on improving efficiency.
Reports produced by these committees are often discussed, noted, and closed without action plans for implementation.
This ineffective governance has had far-reaching consequences, including delays in the approval of new academic programs.
UNESWA has lost ground to competitor institutions such as the Eswatini Medical Christian University (EMCU) and Botho University, which have been more agile in adapting to market demands.
The report warns that unless urgent reforms are implemented, UNESWA will continue to fall behind in the higher education sector.
Conflicts of interest raise ethical concerns in Council
The Task Team’s report also exposes serious ethical concerns within the University Council, including conflicts of interest involving past and present Chairpersons.
One of the most shocking revelations is that Chairpersons have been drawing irregular monthly salaries, with figures ranging from E30,000 to E100,000, despite constitutional guidelines prohibiting such practices.
The report also details an incident during the Covid-19 pandemic where an influential Council member, accompanied by top university management, collected ethanol from one of the university’s departments without following proper procedures.
This incident, the report suggests, highlights a culture of Council overreach into university operations.
Allegations of nepotism and favouritism have further eroded confidence in UNESWA’s governance.
Some Council members have been accused of using university resources, including vehicles and personnel, for personal gain.
Senior management officers who align themselves with powerful Chairpersons are often rewarded with preferential treatment, while those who challenge these irregularities face reprisals.
The report concludes that unless governance structures at UNESWA are urgently reformed, the institution will continue to face financial instability, operational inefficiencies, and declining academic standards.