Times Of Swaziland: COMMITTEE TO PROBE ECESWA COMMITTEE TO PROBE ECESWA ================================================================================ Sibongile Sukati on 19/09/2019 08:49:00 LOBAMBA – Finally, a seven-member committee has been elected in the House of Assembly to investigate alleged gross irregularities relating to maladministration at the Exams Council of Eswatini (ECESWA). The motion, which was moved by Motshane MP Robert Magongo and supported by Gege MP Musa Kunene, had featured in the Order Paper for at least two months without being heard. Yesterday, MP Magongo finally had the floor where he asked the House to support the motion where among other things he alleged that the registrar of ECESWA’s contract had long elapsed, but he was still in office. The ECESWA Registrar is Dr Edmund Mazibuko. Magongo further said the money paid for exam fees by parents was too high. He informed the MPs that two purchase orders for certificates had been made with the first being 24 000 certificates and the other reflecting 21 000 of them, when it was known how many pupils had sat for the examinations. He alleged that money was being abused and that some of the staff members were very unhappy. The seconder also said there was infighting within the institution. Mahlangatsha MP Musa Ngcobo said the committee should further investigate if the Grade V examinations and Junior Certificate examinations were still necessary. Copying “For example, we always get reports that some schools were caught copying and the next thing they are cleared and we also have heard that some examination papers are leaked,” alleged MP Ngcobo. Lubombo Region MP Lorraine Nxumalo then called for the adjournment of the debate and urged her colleagues to start nominating the members of the Select Committee. MP Magongo though declined the nomination. Meanwhile, the committee was given 45 days to table a report of the enquiry.