MBABANE – A cloud of mystery surrounds the unexplained disappearance of an excavator worth E2 million from the Eswatini Medical Christian University (EMCU) in Mbabane.
The high-value construction machine reportedly vanished without a trace on Christmas Day and efforts to locate it have so far proven futile. The university’s management is said to be in the dark regarding its whereabouts, despite internal claims that some within the institution may know more than they are revealing.
Sources within the university told this publication that the excavator, which was an essential component in the ongoing infrastructure expansion of the campus, was last seen being driven out of the premises during the festive break. It never returned.
“It was only after the holiday break that the university realised the excavator was missing,” said a staff member, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal. “It was a key piece of machinery used for major earthworks. When we started asking questions about where it had gone, no one could give a clear answer. That’s when suspicion of theft began to grow.”
According to the source, the disappearance sparked internal talks suggesting that the excavator may have been deliberately removed and sold off.
“Some staff believe management knows exactly what happened. One of the senior personnel is alleged to have facilitated its removal. This wasn’t an accident, someone clearly planned it,” the employee alleged.
Another insider echoed these claims, stating that rumours within the university pointed to a possible inside job.
“There’s no way such a large machine could leave the premises unnoticed, especially on a day like Christmas,” the source said.
“Someone had the keys, the access, and the intent. It didn’t just roll away on its own.”
When approached for comment, Sebenta Menon, the Registrar of EMCU, confirmed the disappearance of the excavator and said an internal investigation had been launched to establish the facts surrounding the incident.
“We only became aware of the disappearance after the holiday period,” Menon said. “We are doing everything in our power to locate the machine. I believe we will find it.”
Menon said that the university’s optimism is largely due to the presence of CCTV surveillance across the campus. He confirmed that the footage showed one of the employees driving the excavator out of the university compound.
“We have evidence from our security cameras. The footage shows an employee operating the excavator and removing it from the premises,” he said. “This gives us reason to believe that it can be recovered. We know who took it.”
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