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Cops shoot 3 UNISWA students

17/08/2012 00:00:00 MBONGISENI NDZIMANDZE

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MBABANE – Three University of Swaziland students were yesterday shot with rubber bullets by the police.

Another student sustained serious injuries and they all had to be rushed to the Mbabane Government Hospital for treatment.

This happened during a confrontation with the police at the Mbabane Campus as the students were toyi-toying after being barred by the police from marching to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.

One of the injured students was Kwaluseni Student Representative Council (SRC) Chairperson Sibusiso Dlamini who was assaulted on the head and left leg with batons.

The police, who were led by Hhohho Regional Commander Richard Mngomezulu, told the students that they would not allow them to march on a public road to deliver the petition as they did not have a permit to do so.

"We will not allow you to march on this road as you do not have the permit. The only compromise we can make is to allow you to board buses to deliver the petition," he said.

The students arrived at noon and remained outside the Mbabane Campus of the institution for four hours with the hope that the police would eventually change their minds and allow them to march.

This, however, did not happen.

At around 3pm the students lit a fire and it was after that, that the police started firing tear gas canisters towards them while others shot at them with rubber bullets

The students were outside the premises of the institution singing and chanting political slogans when they decided to start the fire.

As the police fired the tear gas canisters and rubber bullets some of the students managed to run for cover into some of houses situated next to the hospital while others went to hide in the buildings within the Mbabane campus. The injured university students were treated and discharged.

THE STUDENTS’ DEMANDS
1. Prioritisation of courses - The SRC is of the view that the issue of prioritisation of courses should be put to rest. Of note as we have always stated, this matter is contained in proposed scholarship policy which is not effective. We, therefore, find it unprecedented to apply non-effective law or policy on the students. The SRC Executive, therefore, expects the Ministry of Labour and Social Security to provide scholarships to all students who have been admitted to UNISWA regardless of their area of study

2. First-year and second-year students’ allowances - In a unprecedented move government arbitrarily cut students allowance by 60 per cent last academic year. This was applied to first-year students. Experience has taught us that it is impossible to cope with university life under such conditions. Considering the socio – economic status of the country we find it unreasonable for government to effect such cuts. We, therefore, call upon government to reconsider this position. They should be reversed with immediate effect and not effected in the newly admitted students.

3. Mixed computers numbers – The issue of mixed computers numbers brought unnecessary pain and inconvenience to the students. We, therefore, want this matter addressed once and for all as its tautology is undesirable.

4. Bachelor of Laws transfers - Students who were studying for a Diploma in Law and later transferred to LLB were also denied scholarships last academic year. We, therefore, call upon the ministry to pay for these students as they are citizens of the country and deserve to be served by government of the day.

5. Self-sponsored students – Call upon government to pay for them as they are citizen of this country.

6. Civil servants – Government to also pay for them as they signed contracts to do so.

7. Allowances – Call upon the ministry to pay for all students in time and to also release allowances for all students in time.

Students vow to stay away from lectures

MBABANE - University of Swaziland (UNISWA) students have vowed to stay away from lectures until all students are granted scholarships.

The Students Representative Council (SRC) President Sibusiso Nhlabatsi said they have, on numerous occasions, attempted to engage the Ministry of Labour and Social Security to no avail.

He said today they will continue with the ‘vusela’ exercises at the various campuses of the University of Swaziland.

"You continuously insist on ignoring all our correspondence or attempts to meet you. We condemn such unprofessional behaviour. There are outstanding issues pertaining to the students that need your immediate attention," he said.

In the letter directed to the ministry, Nhlabatsi stated that there was correspondence which outlined all the terms and references that needed the ministry to deliberate.

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Lutfo Dlamini, said he was not aware that the students would deliver a petition yesterday. Dlamini said it was news to him that the students were in Mbabane.

He said they should have forwarded correspondence to the principal secretary if they wanted to raise certain issues with him. "My doors are always open and the SRC is aware of that," he said.

SRC Chairperson arrested

MBABANE - The police yesterday arrested University of Swaziland Luyengo Campus Student Representative Council (SRC) Chairperson, Bonginkhosi Dlamini.

They alleged that Dlamini assaulted a police officer while the other students were toyi-toying outside the Mbabane Campus.

The students wanted to deliver a petition to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, but were barred by the police.

Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Wendy Hleta, confirmed the arrest. She said Dlamini allegedly pelted the police officers with stones and assault charges would be preferred against him.

The police spokesperson said the police released him and he would be informed of his court appearance.

Hleta said the reason Dlamini was released was because his home was known and he could be easily located.

She added that there were no reports of shot students. Hleta said one student was reported injured when he was hit by a stone which was trown at the police by his colleagues. She said the confrontation between the students and police was ignited by students.

COMMENTS:

- The police commander and the police spin doctor always defend their men in whatever wrongs they commit. How could they fire teargas and rubber bullets to unarmed students? Citizens of any country including Swaziland have a right to show their dissatisfaction through protests, boycotts and picketting. Police are supposed to protect citizens against any harm and further protect their property. What we see is an epitome of a state which does not value human rights. Magagula, keep your men in a leash because they are tarnishing the country's image with their brutality.
August 17, 2012, 12:32 pm, Banele (gudlizintaba@yahoo.com)