BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE– In a landmark step for education, rehabilitation, and social development, His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS) and the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) have signed a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration that has existed informally for years.
The ceremony, held on Tuesday at the HMCS Headquarters in Mbabane, brought together senior officials from both institutions and reaffirmed their shared commitment to knowledge, accountability, and community service.
While UNESWA students, particularly from the Departments of Sociology and Social Work, have long accessed HMCS facilities for fieldwork and academic research, the renewed MoU introduces a structured framework to ensure that the partnership is purposeful, transparent, and mutually beneficial.
“A Promise, Not Just Paper”
HMCS Commissioner General LaMakhosini Phindile Dlamini hailed the agreement as a turning point in advancing the department’s mission of effective rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders.
“This MoU is not just an agreement on paper — it is a promise,” she said. “A promise that students will not only learn from us but also give back. A promise that our shared work will be accurate, constructive, and beneficial to both institutions and, most importantly, to the Kingdom of Eswatini.”
She further noted that past challenges, such as incomplete feedback and inaccuracies in research reporting, will be addressed through improved accountability and documentation mechanisms built into the MoU.
Academia Meets Corrections
UNESWA Acting Vice Chancellor Professor Patricia Joubert expressed gratitude to HMCS for opening its doors to students over the years.
“This memorandum is not just a piece of paper but a shared commitment to building a better society through education, rehabilitation, and community engagement,” she said.
She highlighted UNESWA’s specialised courses such as Forensic Social Work, Sociology of Deviance & Crime, and Drug and Substance Abuse, which will provide both students and HMCS officers with skills to confront challenges around rehabilitation and reintegration.
A Joint Future
The MoU is expected to strengthen training, research, and capacity-building initiatives, with students gaining practical experience and HMCS staff acquiring new knowledge and skills.
Both parties pledged to ensure the agreement produces measurable results through structured implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. “This collaboration sets a precedent,” the Commissioner General emphasised. “It shows what is possible when academia and correctional services work hand in hand. Together, we can shape a criminal justice system that is humane, effective, and forward-looking.”
A Joint Committee of six members — three from each institution — has been formed to oversee the implementation of the MoU.
Committee Members:
- HMCS: Chief Officer Tengetile Dludlu (Research Officer), Chief Officer Xolile Vilakati (Rehabilitation Officer), Chief Officer Thamsanqa Phakathi (HR – Training Officer)
- UNESWA: Dr. Fred Moonga (Social Work Lecturer), Miss Qondile Maseko (Sociology Lecturer), Miss Zee Masuku (Field Coordinator)
The partnership reaffirms the shared vision of HMCS and UNESWA: to build a criminal justice system rooted in rehabilitation, education, and social transformation for the benefit of Eswatini.
(Courtesy Pics)
