Desperate students of the Eswatini Medical Christian University (EMCU) yesterday ‘hijacked’ Minister of Education and Training Owen Nxumalo as he was returning from Cabinet and presented their grievances, particularly how learning has become increasingly difficult at the institution.
The students, who arrived at the ministry’s headquarters at around 2pm, had intended to present their concerns formally after allegedly failing to reach an agreement with the university’s management on issues affecting their studies.
Over 50 students gathered outside the ministry’s gate, where members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) stopped them, explaining that they were not permitted inside since they had not sought permission to march.
Led by members of the Students Representative Council (SRC), the students waited outside until the minister, fresh from a Cabinet meeting, listened to their grievances.
Nxumalo did not proceed to his office, but remained outside attending to the aggrieved EMCU students.
Although not all students had the opportunity to speak, SRC President Andile Lawson and Vice-President Mlungisi Magagula outlined their grievances, which the minister attentively noted.
Lawson explained that they had resorted to approaching the ministry after alleged internal conflicts between management and staff left students caught in the crossfire.
“When two bulls fight, it is the grass that suffers. We felt it was necessary to approach the ministry because, according to the university’s almanac, examinations should have begun on Monday. However, due to these issues, exams have not started. Our academic calendar has been disrupted,” Lawson stated.
He added that after lecturers staged an initial strike, EMCU’s Senate directed that lessons resume. Students were officially recalled on August 11 through a letter signed by Registrar Sebenta Menon.
However, when classes resumed, further unrest among staff allegedly erupted, leaving students confused and uncertain.
“We have tried communicating with the faculty through letters, but have received no response. There are no lessons. Two weeks ago, Senate promised that examinations would be extended by two weeks, but since then we have not had any lessons,” Lawson said.
He emphasised that students were now pinning their hopes on the minister’s intervention.
“We only want peace at the institution so that we can study. We are already struggling because our academic year has ended, and we are no longer receiving living allowances, which ended in June. If exams are delayed further, we will close late, fail to register on time, and our allowances will also be delayed,” he said.
Meanwhile, the National Workers Union in Swaziland Higher Institutions (NAWUSHI) said they had no comment on the matter. However, on August 12, the university urgently approached the Industrial Court seeking an interdict against a planned strike, arguing that it would derail examinations.
In court papers filed by attorney Modicai Donga of SV Mdladla and Associates, the university accused NAWUSHI of organising an unlawful strike action.
Menon, in his affidavit, noted that NAWUSHI had demanded negotiations on bonuses linked to cost-of-living adjustments, as well as medical aid and housing allowances.
He said at the time, the University Council, which was the only body authorised to make such decisions, had not yet been appointed.
Menon explained that the council was eventually constituted in June, and on August 1, the parties signed a memorandum to continue discussions through the Joint Negotiations Committee.
Minister Promises to Engage Board
Responding to the EMCU students, Minister Owen Nxumalo said he was unaware of the issues affecting the institution.
He assured them that he would meet with the board so they could brief him on what was happening, stressing that it was wrong for students to miss classes.
The minister emphasised that such issues should have been handled by the board, which would now have to brief him urgently because missing lessons was unacceptable.
He said it was unfortunate that such developments had occurred without the ministry’s knowledge, adding that had he known while in Cabinet, he would have raised the matter for assistance.
Nxumalo stressed that he would urgently engage with the board to ascertain what was preventing lecturers from going to class.
“We discussed these issues before and stated that engagements should take place. I must determine what is stopping lecturers from teaching so that appropriate action can be taken,” he said.
He added that the ministry had previously addressed standoffs at the institution, and his role as political head was to facilitate dialogue between the board and management — not to intervene directly.
“This affects your future. Stakeholders must negotiate, and if the institution can’t meet the demands, they should be escalated to the minister,” Nxumalo said.
He commended the students for remaining peaceful, but noted that they should have scheduled an appointment.
Principal Secretary Naniki Mnisi said the students’ unannounced visit breached the Public Order Act. She cautioned that they should have submitted a petition through the university council and obtained permission from the Mbabane Municipal Council and police.
