JOBS FREEZE: EDUCATION, HEALTH TO SUFFER

MBABANE – Forget about efficient service delivery. Public Sector Associations (PSAs) said government’s stance to freeze hiring and promotions has demonstrated its disregard for service delivery in the country.

The PSAs include the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), the Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU) and the National Public Services and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU).
They were reacting to the memorandum released by the Ministry of Public Service Principal Secretary, Evart Madlopha.

The circular directed to principal secretaries and head of departments reads that all vacant posts, including creation of new ones and promotions across government were frozen.
This state of affairs has been necessitated by the current financial situation in the country and the cash flow problems faced by government, reads the circular in part.

negative

The PSAs did not take kindly to the circular, further noting the negative impact this would have both economically and socially.
The education sector is the most to be affected as posts are said to be available under the Teaching Service Commission (TSC).
Zwelithini Mndzebele, SNAT Secretary General said the stance taken by government meant that education was not a priority in the country.
Mndzebele said if government, through the ministry of public service was adamant about freezing the employment of teachers, it should brace itself for poor external results at the end of the year.

“We will suffer the most as there are so many spaces available in schools for teachers; so, who’ll teach the children?”
He emphasised that service delivery in their field would suffer as each teacher offered specialised services.
Arguing his point, he said it would be absurd to expect a SiSwati teacher to be effective when teaching Science, given that they would have to multi-task as a result of shortage of staff.

repeatedly

Mndzebele lamented that government seemed to be concerned about saving every penny yet his organisation had repeatedly voiced out their dissatisfaction with the exorbitant spending on non priority areas.
SWADNU President, Bheki Mamba said his organisation had noted with concern that those in leadership seemed to be inconsiderate of the plight of a civil servant and the public in general.
According to Mamba, the freezing of positions was an indication that the jubilation to be expressed by graduates in the upcoming graduation ceremonies countrywide meant nothing.

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