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MBABANE – The Academic and Administrative Personnel (ALAAP) of the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) has questioned why Members of Parliament (MPs) remain silent on the challenges faced by the institution.

A/AA3 Secretary *eneral S* Dr Mdudu]i Shongwe said the university had been grappling with severe financial difficulties, which had a detrimental impact on the education of the students and on the country¶s future.

Shongwe called for an urgent response from the government to address the university¶s challenges. +e made these remarks following the delay in UNESWA staff salaries. According to a memorandum issued by UNESWA Registrar Dr Salebona Simelane on Monday, the salaries were delayed due to a shortage of funds. Simelane said efforts to address the matter were underway. During the 3arliament,

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Dr Simelane presented to the +ouse of Assembly Select &ommittee following a petition by the National Workers Union in Swa]iland +igher ,nstitutions NAWUS+, .

NAWUS+, levelled a number of allegations which included the non-remittance of statutory deductions and stop orders to various financial institutions, which had been deducted from staff members¶ salaries and that UNESWA employees had not benefitted from the cost-of-living adjustment &o/A , among many others.

Subventions

Dr Simelane presented that UNESWA derived most of its revenue from government in the form of subventions, which translated to per cent of its annual disposable income. +e said tuition and other sources of income made up the remaining per cent. +e e[plained that added together, the two sources of revenue streams made up per cent of the annual UNESWA budget.

,n reaction to the monetary challenges at UNESWA, the A/AA3 S* said government needed to reinvest in the institution. Dr Shongwe said the university had been struggling to cover its costs, which affected the payment of their salaries.

According to Dr Shongwe, government was subventing the institution on salaries and in turn, they lacked money for operations. Dr Shongwe alleged that they were promised their salaries on 7hursday or )riday.

+e said they could not ascertain the