MP'S SCHOLARSHIP CALL SPARKS OUTRAGE

MBABANE - A statement by Mbabane East MP Welcome Dlamini has ignited a firestorm of public anger.
Members of the public have expressed deep dissatisfaction over his call to cancel scholarships for tertiary students who criticise the Tinkhundla System of Government.

The Member of Parliament (MP) voiced his contentious proposal during yesterday’s scrutiny of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security’s Annual Performance Report and 2025/26 budget, held before the House of Assembly Portfolio Committee in Parliament.

Dlamini directed his concerns to the Minister for Labour and Social Security, Phila Buthelezi, questioning the ministry’s oversight of student conduct, particularly among those receiving government scholarships in foreign universities, especially overseas.

He alleged that certain students, while studying abroad, were actively criticising the Eswatini Government and adopting anti-Tinkhundla stances. He found it paradoxical that these students expected continued financial support from a system they openly condemned.

Questioned

“In recent weeks, I observed some students wearing the regalia of a particular political party, and I questioned whether these individuals, who are openly insulting government, are being sponsored by it,” Dlamini stated.

He did, however, commend the Eswatini authorities for their efforts in engaging with students during official visits to their host countries, highlighting the importance of these meetings in fostering a sense of national belonging. He argued that these interactions serve as a vital countermeasure to the alleged recruitment efforts of exiled individuals who have turned against the government and are attempting to radicalise students.

“Minister, if there are students who have adopted anti-government or anti-Tinkhundla positions, and are still receiving government funding, their scholarships must be terminated. One cannot expect to benefit from a system they fundamentally reject,” he asserted.

Dlamini further claimed that a prominent ‘political figure’ on self-exile was globetrotting, actively recruiting students at foreign universities to oppose the Eswatini Government. He called for immediate action to halt these activities.

Moreover, he suggested that the passports of individuals speaking against government, as Eswatini Government property, should be revoked. He urged Minister Buthelezi to collaborate with the Ministries of Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs to implement this measure.

“They cannot be permitted to travel the world using local passports while actively working against the interests of the country,” he declared.

In response, Minister Buthelezi clarified that the student scholarship agreement forms clearly stipulate expected conduct. He affirmed that government possesses the authority to terminate agreements in cases of contravention.

The minister acknowledged that they had investigated the students’ behaviour and discovered that many of the most vocal critics were not government-sponsored. However, he admitted that some government-funded students might be operating covertly. Buthelezi issued a stark warning, stating that any government-sponsored student found to be publicly denouncing the system would face the full consequences of Clause 24 of their agreement, implying severe repercussions.

Condemnation

The MP’s comments have been met with a wave of condemnation from the public, with many taking to social media to voice their concerns. A common thread running through the reactions is the assertion that scholarship funds are derived from taxpayers’ money, not government largesse. “This country is in crisis. Why must Tinkhundla be forced into our minds? Personally, I crave democracy. I am talking because I pay tax in this country,” one citizen commented, encapsulating the sentiments of many.

Others echoed this sentiment, emphasising that ‘this is emaSwati’s tax money, not yours!’ and suggested that, ‘don’t collect tax from those who are opposing the system as well. It’s fair’.

The MP’s suggestion that critical students should be denied support has been seen as an attack on freedom of expression and the right to education.

“Students should have a right to education and freedom to political beliefs. If so, why would government collect tax from everyone including those who have different political beliefs? Government should have political tolerance because our world is shaped by such,” another commented.

Many questioned the MP’s understanding of the source of scholarship funding. “The very same students are paying tax, sir,” one person pointed out, while another stated: “Political affiliation is not considered when collecting the tax from the populace to pool the scholarship coffers. So, why should politics be considered when it’s time to pay out the same?”
Several citizens expressed their disillusionment with the MP’s stance, with comments like: “In short, Mr Dlamini, you are telling the Mbabane East voters who elected you and the entire Eswatini nation that you will never ever dare criticise the Eswatini Government no matter what, because they are paying you?” The public outcry has also focused on the perceived unfairness of the proposal. “If I don’t support the Tinkhundla System, the Tinkhundla System must not take my tax and VAT because scholarship is for taxpayers,” one person stated.

The public debate has highlighted the fundamental issue that scholarships, like other State-funded initiatives, are financed through taxpayer money. Critics argue that the proposal to revoke scholarships based on political views would contradict the basic principles of taxation, which are intended to benefit all citizens equally, regardless of their political beliefs.

Discriminate

“Scholarships are funded through taxpayers’ money,” one observer noted. “If we were to do this, we would essentially be breaking the very basic rules of taxation. A good taxation system does not discriminate. If we apply this discriminatory practice, then all those who oppose the state should not be expected to pay taxes. The MP is offside.”

The controversy also raises broader questions about the relationship between politics and government. “Politics and government are closely linked,” one social media user explained. “Criticising government is not wrong, as long as it is done constructively and respectfully. In a democracy, freedom of speech allows citizens to hold government accountable, express dissent and advocate for positive change.”

The situation has ignited a wider conversation about the importance of electing informed and responsible legislative representatives.

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