BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – Minister of Education and Training Owen Nxumalo has appointed a 12-member task team to revamp the University of Eswatini (UNESWA).
Minister Nxumalo appointed the team today (Monday, June 17, 2024) at UNESWA, Kwaluseni Campus. The 12-member task team comprises managers from different parastatals, public sector, and the private sector. The minister did this in response to complaints by the members of the public, who expressed concern about the state of the country’s tertiary institution.
The concerns were also addressed by Prime Minster Russell Mmiso Dlamini, who told editors about two weeks ago that a task team would be appointed to deal with the problems at UNESWA. This was during the PM/Eswatini Editors’ Forum Breakfast Meeting, which took place at Mountain View, Mbabane.
Appointing the task team, Minister Nxumalo mandated the team to deliver a preliminary report after three months on what they would find. After six months, the minister tasked the team to deliver a conclusive report, with findings and recommendations on what they would have found.
Nxumalo urged all the UNESWA staff members to cooperate with the task team when doing its work. The task team will be led by Ubombo Sugar Limited Managing Director (MD) Muzi Siyaya. Other managers come from companies such as Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS), Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Labour and Social Security, and the University of South Africa (UNISA). Below is the full list of the members of the task team:
| Name | Role in Task Force | Entity |
| Muzi Siyaya | Chairperson | Managing Director: Ubombo Sugar Limited |
| Prof. Bheki Mamba | Member | UNISA |
| Dr Alex Tsela | Member | Alex Tsela Holdings |
| Mboni Dlamini | Member | Eswatini Qualifications Authority |
| Fairlie Mabuza | Member | CEO SIDC |
| Sibusiso Nhleko | Member | MTN |
| Sifisosethu Bhembe | Member | Ministry of Labour and Social Security |
| Primrose Dlamini | Member | Ministry of Finance – PEU |
| Mbuso Simelane | Member | Inhlonhla Co. Chartered Accountant & Advocate |
| Mcolisi Maphosa | Secretary | Ministry of Education and Training |
| Simangele Shabangu | Member | Office of the Accountant General (AG) |
| Leonard Nxumalo | Member | Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) |
