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King reinstated fired teachers, says Indlovukazi

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LUDZIDZINI - Her Majesty the Indovukazi has reportedly clarified that the King said all teachers, including those who had been dismissed should return to class.

Her Majesty was referring to the speech made by King Mswati III at the end of the People’s Parliament at Ludzidzini on Saturday.

The Queen Mother made her views on the matter known during a brief meeting with the Swaziland National Association of Teachers’ Executive Committee yesterday at Ludzidzini.

The union leaders had gone to the royal residence to deliver two cows as a cultural ‘thank you’ to the monarch for his remarks on their plight on Saturday.

The delegation was led by the association’s President Sibongile Mazibuko.

Also present were Secretary General, Muzi Mhlanga, Sub Editor Simangele Mmema and other members of the executive.

Worth noting is that Mazibuko and Mmema were also fired two weeks ago.

The dismissals of over 200 teachers came after the teachers had been on strike for over six weeks demanding a 4.5 per cent cost-of-living adjustment on their salaries.

Government gave them an ultimatum stating that teachers who did not return to class would be fired. True to its word, government started dismissing teachers who did not heed the ultimatum.

Last week during the People’s Parliament, many speakers requested the King to intervene on the impasse between government and teachers.

In his remarks at the end of the session, the King ordered both parties to return to the negotiating table and he further called upon all teachers to report for work on Monday.

There has, however, been different interpretations of the King’s speech with teachers saying the King meant even the fired teachers should return to work while government has repeatedly insisted that the King was only referring to the teachers who had not been dismissed.

According to sources who were present during the meeting between the Indlovukazi and the teachers, Senior Prince Mahlaba and acting Ludzidzini Governor Timothy Velabo Mtetwa made brief remarks before the Queen Mother spoke.

They both said the King had said all teachers, including those fired should return to class, the source said.

The source said in her remarks the Indlovukazi thanked the teachers for following cultural protocols to the letter. He said the Indlovukazi then told the executive committee that she failed to understand why there were still unresolved issues in this matter because the King had been clear that all teachers should return to class.

In an interview, the acting Governor confirmed that the Indlovukazi said all teachers should return to class as per the King’s order.

"His Majesty said during Sibaya that all teachers, including the fired ones, should return to work. This is what the Queen Mother said she heard the King pronouncing during the People’s Parliament," Mtetwa said.

"Sayiva sonkhe kutsi Ingwenyama yatsini. Phela Inkhosi ingumlomo longacali manga," meaning we all heard what the King said. In fact he is the mouth that tells no lies.

When Government Press Secretary, Percy Simelane, was called for comment on what had transpired at Ludzidzini he said: "We gave your newspaper our position. We have no reasons to repeat or recycle it."

Teachers show appreciation of King’s speech

 

LUDZIDZINI - Teachers yesterday gave the King and Indlovukazi two cows in appreciation of the King’s speech during the Peoples Parliament.

The Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) Executive Committee delivered the cows at the Ludzidzini Royal Residence.

SNAT President Sibongile Mazibuko said as Swazis they were following traditional procedures that you have to thank the monarch in such situations.

"We presented the beasts to Their Majesties as per the Swazi procedure. We do not offer the cows because the King’s address is in our favour. Even if the King’s address was not in our favour we would have still done the same as per our custom," she said.

Mazibuko said the cows were from all members of SNAT.

She said the money to buy the beasts was taken from the teachers’ coffers.

Acting Ludzidzini Governor Timothy Mtetwa confirmed that the teachers presented the King and Indlovukazi with two cows.

"The cows are fat. We thank teachers for showing that they are Swazis through presenting Their Majesties with the cows. The Queen Mother was overjoyed by the gift," Mtetwa said.

 

Queen Mother shocked

 

LUDZIDZINI - The President of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers, Sibongile Mazibuko, confirmed that the Indlovukazi said even the fired teachers were reinstated on Saturday.

Mazibuko said their sole intention for going to Ludzidzini was to thank His Majesty for his speech on Saturday.

"The Queen Mother cordially welcomed us. We were overwhelmed. We then reported to her that we were shocked that there were people who were ignoring His Majesty’s call that all teachers should return to work to end the impasse in schools," she said.

"The Queen Mother was equally shocked that there were people defying the King’s pronouncement. Her Majesty said she did not know where those people were getting that mandate from. She promised she would warn those people to stop expelling teachers," Mazibuko said.

In a separate interview, acting Ludzidzini Governor Timothy Mtetwa confirmed Mazibuko’s version of what transpired during the meeting.

 

‘Teachers should fearlessly return to work’

 

LUDZDZINI - Sibongile Mazibuko, the President of SNAT, says all teachers should fearlessly return to work because they were now under the protection of Their Majesties.

Mazibuko beamed with exuberance after the teachers Executive Committee meeting with the Queen Mother yesterday.

"Kute lotasitsintsa sesivikelwe ngemakhosi etfu," loosely translated: No one will trouble us now. We are under the protection of Their Majesties.

Mazibuko lauded Her Majesty for the motherly love she showed them yesterday.

"All teachers should return to class fearlessly. As the King pronounced during the People’s Parliament that all teachers should return to class, I call all teachers to return to class," she said.

Mazibuko said His Majesty was a forgiving leader.

"The King forgave Cabinet and teachers," she said.

The SNAT President said speakers at the People’s Parliament called on the King to expel Cabinet, reinstate the fired teachers and give them the 4.5 per cent cost-of-living adjustment.

"However, the King forgave Cabinet by not firing them as per the people’s call and he reinstated the fired teachers and further called for negotiations to take place," she said.

Mazibuko said it was imperative that the concerned parties should control their emotions.

She said as teachers they calmed down as His Majesty ordered them.


COMMENTS:

 - Sibongile Mazibuko is a dangerous woman bekunene. I'm beginning to admire her for her intellect and political savvy. It takes a brilliant woman to up-stage people who have a monopoly on intelligence most of whom, unfortunately, can be found in gov't today. These politicians think they're exclusively the smartest lot in Swaziland and everyone else is Sidvomu. Ms. Mazibuko has presumptuously proved them wrong, in a thrilling and dramatic fashion too. I like her skills to adapt quickly to various situations in order to win. Her humility in complying with Swazi culture as she took off to consult with Her Majesty, Muhlekazi, is a case in point. I am a traditionalist, which means I'm generally circumspect, but I admire aptitude or skill wherever I see it. Sibongile Mazibuko has it aplenty. That she has been brilliant like a fox in her handling of the teachers' strike and in out maneuvering gov't, this will surely leave cabinet egg-faced. Mazibuko thinks with her head and not her heart. Gov't on the other hand seems to thrive on anger and bruised emotions as if settling scores with citizens is the only way to build our beautiful nation. Mazibuko has shown that she is Prime Ministerial material by being compliant with Swazi culture even when it hurts. Eish, I am biting my tongue as I write this comment because in my lifetime I never thought I'd write a raving report about a unionist! I guess that's what happens when a country has an unskilled and vision-less cabinet. I must conclude by saying Bayethe, Muhlekazi, thank you for your clear vision and for being a peace maker when others are spoiling for a war.
August 16, 2012, 8:05 am, Keep Exhaling (keep@yahoo.com)

 - Siyabonga kakhulu!
August 16, 2012, 8:06 am, France Gcina Mndzebele (fgmndzebele@gmail.com)

  - Mr editor. Thank you for allowing me space on this widely read newspaper.I jst want to highlite that Phela lelive leli laSomhlolo liyahlolelana. we are very grateful about the clarity on the teaches impasse.
August 16, 2012, 8:06 am, concerned swazi citizen (vuyoheavens@gmail.com )

  - A gud move by our NEC b'cause de rest of us we're in our respective work stations n silibala kulilela labacoshiwe,no action.Whats left now is de notorious 4.5%,hop nalaba betimali wud adhere to his Majesty's speech.SHAME ON U Cabinet
August 16, 2012, 8:06 am, Sandile mtfombeni (Sandilemtfombeni@yahoo.com)

 - Bayethe wena waphakathi. Ndlovukazi Mhlekazi. Teachers have been named branded criminals. Am pleased that they have shown that they are true Swazis. In the battle btwn teachers and government the real terrorist who need to be charged have been uncovered. His Majesty must fire them as per the people's parliament call.
August 16, 2012, 8:06 am, Ndumiso fakudze (Ndumisofakudze@yahoo.com)

 - Sibongile Mazibuko. Good job! I don't know you except from the newspapers in which you're always shown shouting and very angry. But what you did by going to Her Majesty has made some of us proud of you. It has proved you're a genuine Swazi and we really like that. Nembala, uyawati emakhosi, uyawahlonipha futsi. Because of that, we applaud you madam. Forget about the others who are hell-bent on defying our revered king's orders. Their day is still coming very soon. They'll get theirs believe me.
August 16, 2012, 10:50 am, Makhowe Mvelase - Shiselweni (makhowe@gmail.com)

  - Muhlekazi Ndlovikazi. We salute you mother of the nation for your wisdom! I am a businessman and have lost too much business because of gov't's mishandling of the teachers' strike. Now that it's over, I'm happy and all credit goes to Emakhosi. My anger will remain with government. Make Sibongile Mazibuko, thank you for humbling yourself. You've proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are a much better leader than your compatriots at Capital Hill.
August 16, 2012, 10:50 am, Swazi Patriot (swazi@patriot.com)

  - Mr Nelson Mandela is here,Sbongile is doing w@ Mandela did.Excellent
August 16, 2012, 10:50 am, Claudia (.co.za@binu.com)

 - I am humbled by the Magic Spell of uMhlekazi and her motherly LOVE for her people including the wise leadership of the Swazi Teachers. She is a rare gift for the people of Swaziland, a country that has been known for its peaceful kind of settling such disputes. I hope the Sibusiso-led Cabinet with take a leave and learn. Her Majesty was very thoughful of the pains of the parents and the children's education that is being destroyed by a selfish Cabinet which is hiding its wrong doing behind morning prayers and our loving God. The reception and warmly acceptance of the cries of the lowely paid teaching human capital, by their Majesties shows that they is room for cordial service to the nation that is expeirancing heavy taxes and unsecured food security. We salute such kind of wisdom by their Majesties and their humanity. To the humble teacher leadership we say, continue with such kind of respect to your elders. We thank you for this.
August 16, 2012, 10:51 am, Themba Douglas Mgazi-Sobethu KaMageba KaNdabezitha (tdntshangase@ruraldevelopment.gov.za)

  - SNAT Executive Committee, you are brilliant! You have demonstrated your love for this country. You have demonstrated that you have the interests of the teachers you lead as well as the kingdom at large. If the Prime Minister and his cabinet had the same acumen as yours, we would be dreaming of reaching world class status. The Prime Minister and his cabinet are enemies of this beautiful country of Swaziand. Unions, on the other hand, are friends of this country. The people have spelt it out in the people's parliament - the Prime Minister and government must go! His Majesty gave them the benefit of doubt and spared them the exit door, this this is how they thank him! Shame of your Prime Minister and your cabinet! Thank you Editor.
August 16, 2012, 10:52 am, shoes (nsgwebu@hotmail.com)

  - Cha,sibongile ubrilliant nine bekunene.Uhlula onkhe lamadvodza lesaba nali licabinet.Sibongile i salute u as the only best woman in Swaziland kudlala ipolitiki
August 16, 2012, 10:53 am, Thulani (thulanilukhele2@gmail.com)

 - BAYETHE YOUR MAJESTIES, i wish that our current cabinet could take note of this kind of caliber Sbongile has, i must say that the Swazi Nation needs this kind of people in the next cabinet, sesiyekele letimfucuta tebantfu
August 16, 2012, 3:43 pm, meyiwa (miyami@yahoo.com)

  - Bayethe Wena WaPhakathi! Hail the King!
August 16, 2012, 3:43 pm, Dlamini Dumsani (dumsanidlaminni@yahoo.com)

 - I want to thank the INDLOVUKAZI AND OUR LOVELY KING MSWATI III for what they did to all teachers, really they are genuine leaders. Sibongile Ilove you should all the politicians and cabinet have the heart you have for the nation this country would reach the first world countrise . as a nation we need such people not bogubhela kwesakhe and don't care about the next person. NKOSI NDLOVUKAZI, MHLEKAZI
August 16, 2012, 6:25 pm, N, Manty (nmantimakhulu@ymail.com)

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