BY PHUMELELE MKHONTA
MBABANE- The long wait is over as the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) graduation dates have been finally revealed.
After having their graduation ceremony postponed multiple times for the past two years, 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 classes will finally be clad in their black gowns, receiving their academic certificates afters years of hard work.
According to an internal memo sent by UNESWA Registrar Dr Salebona Simelane, the ceremony will be held on October 8, 2022.
“It is advised that the Graduation Ceremony for the 2019/2020 and 2021/2021 completing classes will be held on October 8, 2022,” read the memo.
When sought for comment, Simelane confirmed the dates with this publication saying all was set for the ceremony. However, the registrar highlighted that an official statement on this regard had not been released yet.
Nakiwe Nxumalo, a Bachelor of Social Work class of 2020/2021 graduate, said she was over the moon when asked about her thoughts towards long wait on the graduation ceremony.
“Our hard work has finally paid off. We had lost all hope at some point when we had to close the university when COVID-19 was first declared as a pandemic. We thank God for keeping us and I am just excited about my first graduation ceremony
“I am happy I will finally graduate. Wearing the gown was one of those things that kept me going even when the going got tough. I really cannot wait to wear that hood with pride,” said Nxumalo.
Other graduates, who preferred to keep anonymous, said they were excited about the fact that were finally having their graduation after waiting for so long.
“Of the four years that we have been pursuing our degree, we were looking forward to the grand finale- which is the graduation ceremony. We lost hope in the emergence of COVID-19, but now, things are turning out for the good.
“We might be making preparation under duress but it is worth the trouble,” they said.
