MBABANE – The ongoing dispute at Africa Evangelical Church (AEC), Mbuluzi Branch, has resulted in the cancellation of a parents’ meeting intended to elect a new school committee.
School committees are crucial for ensuring high-quality education by providing community oversight, setting strategic goals, managing budgets and acting as a liaison between the public and school administration. They foster collaboration among parents, teachers and officials, enhancing accountability, transparency and support for school improvement.
Information gathered indicates that the elections, which were scheduled for last Thursday, were called off at the eleventh hour after the Regional Education Office (REO) received a letter objecting to three candidates earmarked for key positions on the school committee.
It is worth noting that the parents are currently divided, following the removal of resident Pastor Joseph Dlamini. Dlamini is among the 15 pastors who were removed pending investigations into claims related to a matter still pending in court. He was replaced by an interim pastor, Simon Dlamini.
His removal has caused division within the AEC Mbuluzi Branch, where most parents are members of the church.
The letter to the REO was signed by Mgadlela Stewart, Chairman of the Education Board and Thabo Nhleko, Deputy Secretary. It was in response to a letter dated March 27, 2026, written by Sabelo Mkhonta concerning the submission of the AEC Mission School Committee candidates for the Mbuluzi SAGM Primary School Committee.
The letter aimed to inform the Ministry of Education and Training that the leadership crisis engulfing the AEC remains unresolved, and as such, the environment is still not conducive for the school manager or grant to operate productively and successfully within the school. The chairman claimed that one of the candidates, Dudu, is a ‘ghost’ who does not exist and has never been a member of the Mbuluzi Branch of the AEC. They also alleged that the second candidate had never been a member of the Mbuluzi Branch but was borrowed from Motshane to assist with playing the keyboard, and had since left that role, making him unfit for the position. The third candidate was accused of having disappeared from the church without reporting and is involved in managing the pre-school, which disqualifies him from standing for election.
After reviewing the contents of the letter, which was brought in just minutes after parents had gathered for the elections, the Hhohho Regional Education Officer, Nathi Nkambule, advised that the elections be cancelled pending legal advice on the latest developments.
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