THE 12-member task team that was investigating the crisis at UNESWA has recommended that Chakaza Holdings be dissolved and replaced with professionally managed ventures.
This recommendation was made by the task team in a report presented by the minister of education to the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) Council on Wednesday. According to the report, successful models within the university, such as the Electrical Engineering Department, UNESWA Foundation, and UNESWA FM, should be scaled up and supported as blueprints for institutional turnaround. The report stated that this was a moment for government and partners to act with urgency and coordination to rescue UNESWA and restore its role as a national pillar for development.
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The team emphasised that the university needs to strategically reduce its overreliance on government subvention as its primary revenue stream. “Re-launch income-generating ventures like the Chakaza Holdings concept under professional and competent management that is completely disconnected, rebranded, and not associated with previous similar schemes that have dismally failed. These concepts are practised successfully elsewhere; hence their failure at UNESWA is more about leadership and management incompetence,” reads the report. The report further stated that such initiatives would help build financial resilience on the path to long-term sustainability.
Additionally, the task team recommended that the university address its crippling burden of accumulated debt, subject to verification through a forensic audit.
“Operations of UNESWA under these liabilities render the financial environment unstable, affecting the entire operation of the university. The magnitude of these debts also creates negative ripples that impact companies within the university’s supply chain,” said the team in the report.
UNESWA can still be turned around
THE challenges faced by UNESWA, according to the task team, are undeniably complex but not insurmountable.
The team stated that with a clear strategic vision, decisive leadership, and the collective commitment of all stakeholders, the university can embark on a path of renewal and growth.
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They added that this journey would require difficult decisions, sustained investment, and a culture of accountability at all levels. However, the task team maintained that the rewards of a revitalised institution, one that delivers quality education, fosters innovation, and drives national development are well worth the effort. They further noted that restoring UNESWA’s position as a leading institution will require transformative leadership, proactive planning, and effective stakeholder collaboration.
“By implementing the recommendations outlined in this report, UNESWA has an opportunity to rebuild trust, foster innovation, and contribute meaningfully to Eswatini’s national development.
“The path to recovery is arduous but achievable through a collective commitment to excellence, accountability, and progress,” said the task team in its report.
Opportunity to lease UNESWA houses
UNESWA has an opportunity to partner with professional property developers such as the Eswatini National Housing Board to refurbish and lease its houses for public rental.
This was suggested by the task team, which stated that there were vacant houses owned by the university that still incur security and maintenance costs. The task team noted that, in their observations, the properties were in disrepair and unattractive to staff, who overwhelmingly choose housing allowances set at 20% of salary instead.
The task team further stated that a policy review was needed to align staff benefits with occupancy expectations. They added that UNESWA owns a significant but underperforming real estate portfolio, particularly in staff accommodation.The report indicated that there were 113 houses at the Kwaluseni Campus, with 12 currently vacant. It also noted that there were 95 houses at the Luyengo Campus and 33 belonging to the university at Coates Valley, some of which are leased to non-UNESWA tenants.
There is also one house at the Mbabane Campus. According to the report, UNESWA owns a five-hectare plot in the heart of Coates Valley, which is currently idle and unproductive. Despite its prime location, the farm has neither been cultivated nor commercially developed. The task team also highlighted the Dalcrue Farm in Malkerns, a 260-hectare property with huge potential but minimal productive activity. They noted that only a portion of the land is leased for maize production under Chakaza’s oversight.
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