KWALUSENI: The University of Eswatini (UNESWA) which closed a month ago, reopens today after the institution settled its water bill and struck an agreement with its academic staff union to call off their five-week strike.
A notice by the University Registrar’s Office to UNESWA’s 7475 students at its Kwaluseni and Luyengo campuses advised students to return to campus from today so that classes resume tomorrow.
“It is advised that the University Senate has resolved to re-open the Kwaluseni and Luyengo Campuses with effect from Wednesday 13th November 2024. Students who reside on the campus may return to residence on Wednesday 13th November 2024. Classes will resume on Thursday 14th November 2024,” the notice issued by the acting Registrar Richard Masuku said.
The notice is welcomed by students. Chief Electoral Officer Sibusiso Gwebu said while students are relieved they would be resuming studies, the notice came at the eleventh hour and was received 3 minutes past Six in the evening and added to the confusion around the university.
Gwebu said reopening on a Thursday means there would be only two days of learning which would confuse the university calendar.
Striking UNESWA lecturers have also called off their industrial action, removing a major hurdle that would have stood against the university re-opening. The secretary of the Association of Lecturers and Academic Personnel (ALAP) Dr. Mduduzi Shongwe this morning said they have met with the university administration who have issued a letter of comfort to SwaziMed, the main medical aid insurance company, asking them to continue to provide services and assuring them that UNESWA will pay for their staff membership fees as soon as funds are available.
Dr. Shongwe said academic staff are already at work though there is still lots of logistics to be resolved as the institution had no water for almost a month.
The university closed early in the second week of October 2024 following student protests at delayed subsistence allowances. The Ministry of Labour subsequently paid allowances for students at both UNESWA and the teacher training college, William Pitcher in Manzini which also closed. However, William Pitcher which continued learning online subsequently reopened on 4 November.
The University however could not reopen because the Eswatini Water Corporation cut off water services for non-payment, rendering the institution uninhabitable.
Solutions to resolve the perennial instability of the nation’s highest institution of higher learning is an ongoing concern. The Ministry of Education has appointed a commission of inquiry to investigate UNIESWA’s litany of problems. The tribunal, led by a respected business leader and alumni, Muzi Siyaya started sitting at Kwaluseni last month. It is made of higher education experts, UNESWA alumni and government representatives.
jm/today/13.11.2024
