MBONGWA VICTIMISED - SIBONGILE MAZIBUKO

MBABANE - Ngwane National Liberatory Movement (NNLC) President Sibongile Mazibuko has said that Mbongwa Dlamini is clearly being victimised by the Ministry of Education.

Mazibuko, who is also the former Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT)’s President, said government has a recognition agreement with the organisation, which facilitates a harmonious working relationship between the ministry and the current national executive members.

“Part of the recognition agreement that SNAT has with government stipulates that when a member is elected into the National Office Bearers (NOBs), the supervisor, who most of the time is the head teacher, will sit down with the member and the rest of the staff, to work out a timetable that will make it possible for him or her to fulfil the teaching duties and also actively participate in union meetings and activities,” Mazibuko explained.

The former SNAT president further pointed out that at the time she was at the helm as the organisation’s president, she was supported by the head teacher and the teachers at the school who covered up or even took over her duties while she attended to meetings and conferences in and outside of the country. “I was never charged for absenteeism during my tenure as the organisation’s president because government back then respected the recognition agreement and allowed me and the other NOBs an opportunity to work out such matters with our supervisors at the schools.
Dlamini was served by the ministry of education and training’s (MoET) Under Secretary, Lungelo Nhlengetfwa and is said to be facing over 109 possible charges of absenteeism.

Urged

Mazibuko urged teachers to pull their full weight, support and stand with their current president as he was being victimised. “It is wrong to charge Dlamini of absenteeism by the ministry of education and training and this must be condemned,” Mazibuko pointed out.  SNAT Secretary General (SG) Lot Vilakati in our publication last week confirmed on behalf of the national executive committee (NEC) that their president did receive a letter from the schools manager yesterday. He said the letter suggests that their leader was facing possible charges of absenteeism.  However, he asked not to dwell much on the letter because they were yet to consult with their legal team.
Nonetheless, the SG said as a union, they were aware of where this issue was coming from and where it was headed  to. He said they believed there was an onslaught on their leader and, by extension, the teachers’ association.

Misconduct

Vilakati said this was because it was not the first time their leader received a letter from the office of the schools manager, asking him to show cause why he should not be charged for alleged misconduct. He said one of the recent cases took place during the month of August 2022, where he was served with a letter by the office of the schools manager on claims that he had allegedly put government into disrepute and further promoted hatred or contempt towards it. He also added that the president was also summoned by the National Commissioner (NATCOM) of Police, William Tsitsibala Dlamini, regarding the issue of ‘commander’ whom he quoted when he was mandated by the union to advice teachers not to go to work as their safety was not guaranteed.

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