JACOB ZUMA VISITS PRESCHOOL, LEAVES MESSAGE

NGWANE PARK – “Make the country better than it used to be.”

This is the message that former South Africa (SA) President Jacob Zuma conveyed to Lwati International Preschool learners during a special visit to the school yesterday. The visit by the former president to the international private school caused a stir among Ngwane Park folk, who witnessed heavy security presence outside the school premises and adjacent to the school. Two roads that connected to the school were temporarily closed for close to an hour, as the learners were awaiting the arrival of the former president, who came at 11am with his entourage.  

The former president’s visit to the school was graced by the presence of Zakhele Free Evangelical Assemblies (FEA) Reverend Msibi, the school’s financial director, former Manzini councillor, as well as other dignitaries. Meanwhile, when making his remarks, former president Zuma said there were tasks that different citizens were expected to perform in the country.

“But your task, as you grow, is to learn how this world looks like. How you can change the world to be better than what you found it to be. That can only be fulfilled by you using your time as much as you can because from you, we are expecting citizens who play not just ordinary roles, but specific roles and important roles,” Zuma said. He mentioned that among the learners there would be pastors, teachers, as well as Members of Parliament, which he also said were politicians.

“Why should politicians go to Parliament? They get there to discuss the country, how it can be made better than what you would have found it; how would you make the poor to become the opposite of poor, how would you make the country to look nice and be respected,” he said. The former president said emaSwati were wonderful people who were generally known to be peaceful, clever, loving, as well as beautiful.

Meanwhile, Zuma expressed that he was overjoyed to see the vibrant learners. He commended the head teacher for the good work she had done in constantly improving the school. He further articulated his wish for the school to expand and said he prayed that this would come to pass. Head teacher Zwane said the entire school system, including teachers, parents, as well as children, were doing the work. She commended everyone for the role they were playing. When asked about the relationship between the former president and the school, the head teacher said Zuma was family to the school.

Meanwhile, the school’s Financial Director Dumisani Ngcamphalala said the school had 30 employees and all of whom worked tirelessly to ensure that it was operating at its level best. Ngcamphalala said employees were not there for the money as there was no money. “They get stipends. But because of the love they have for the job, they all come here,” he said.

He also mentioned that they had challenges in that they could not secure land for the expansion of the school. He highlighted that many parents were turned away due to space constraints. Ngcamphalala said most had either seen the quality of education that was offered to the young ones, or either heard about it, and were flocking to the school. He expressed hope that they would soon secure land to build the school on a larger scale.

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