BY PHESHEYA IAN KUNENE
MBABANE – University of Eswatini (UNESWA) lecturers and other staff members of the institution are ready to work, following a three-week closure due to a number of unresolved issues.
This follows that the UNESWA administration issued a memorandum yesterday (Tuesday, November 12, 2024), informing students and other stakeholders that physical learning sessions would resume tomorrow. On-campus students are expected to have reported on-campus by today evening.
Speaking to this publication today (Wednesday, November 13, 2024) on behalf of workers under the Association of Lecturers, Academic and Administrative Personnel (ALAAP), Dr Mduduzi Shongwe, who is the Secretary General of the association, said they were back at work and ready to work, after receiving a letter of comfort from Government assuring them that the monies owed to entities such as SwaziMed, Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC) and Eswatini Water Corporation Services would be paid soon.
Shongwe mentioned that SwaziMed, a medical aid scheme where a majority of the workers were members, had re-opened their accounts after being suspended due to the monies owed to the medical aid scheme.
“It is true that we are re-opening. In fact, as we speak, most of the workers are already back at their work stations and are ready to work. The main issue on our side was the medical aid and we are happy that Government has finally taken actions to address the matter. We understand that times are tough, but all we are asking for from Government is to at least meet us halfway by paying all the monies owed to these entities,” Shongwe said.
Furthermore, Shongwe highlighted that they were eager to work as they loved their job but asked the institution to treat them fairly and for Government to prioritise their needs in order for the university’s operations to run smoothly. He said the strike was now off, as they were now in agreement with Government. However, Shongwe mentioned that if the agreement was breached, they would down their tools again.
While speaking to EBIS on behalf of students, Sibusiso Gwebu expressed his excitement that the institution would be re-opening but said as students, they were confused if the two days they would spend at the university this week would count as a week or not. This follows the fact that a semester at the institution is made out of 12 weeks. Gwebu also complained about the short notice but said they would adjust as they were also eager to go back to class.