MBABANE – In a sudden twist, resigned Eswatini Medical Christian University (EMCU) Vice Chancellor Professor Paul Seung-Hun Yang has said he will stay in office.
The latest developments come after reports that he recently met with the Parliament Select Committee probing the university and made a commitment that he will stay until the probe has been completed.
In a memorandum he has written to the staff of the university dated December 19, 2025, the vice chancellor said recently, various inaccurate rumors have been circulating regarding his resignation (retirement), which he said seems to be causing confusion within the EMCU community.
He said he, therefore, found it prudent to provide clarity on what has transpired.
Firstly, the professor narrated that he sent a letter to the council and the Ministry of Education and Training announcing his resignation, effective August 31, 2026.
“I gave the advance notice, as it would take at least a year for a normal university to find a successor,” reads his memorandum.
The vice chancellor said on November 25, 2025, the chairperson of the council sent him an acceptance of him resignation letter.
“In that letter, he requested that I resign as of December 30, of this year and vacate my office by that date. However, as Article 8(1) of the PEU Acts clearly states, the appointment and resignation of the CEO (VC) of a category A public enterprise, to which EMCU belongs, is the authority of the responsible minister for Education, not the council chair. That means the letter from the council chairperson was unlawful. Therefore, I have requested the minister for Education to send me a letter of acceptance of my resignation, signed by him. However, I have not received a letter from him yet,” said the vice chancellor.
He made reference to Clause 8 of the PEU Act which relates to the appointment of a chief executive office and chief financial officer of a state-owned public enterprise.
Section 8 subsection (1) reads: “Except in the case of the University of Swaziland (Eswatini), the governing body of each Category A public enterprise shall nominate the chief executive officer who shall be appointed or who may be dismissed, by the minister responsible acting in consultation with the Standing Committee”.
Subsection (2), as quoted by the vice chancellor reads: “The chief financial officer of each Category A public enterprise shall be appointed or may be dismissed, by the governing body in consultation with the minister responsible, the Public Enterprise Unit and the Standing Committee”.
Elaborating, he said he will, therefore, assume all his duties and responsibilities as the vice chancellor until the minister sends him a letter accepting his resignation and stating the date when it becomes effective.
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