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LUTFO ACKNOWLEDGES CHALLENGES AT AMITOFO CARE CENTRE

17/10/2013 03:16:00 BY ANDILE NSIBANDE

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NHLANGANO – Philani Maswati Chairperson Lutfo Dlamini has acknowledged the existence of challenges in the manner in which Amitofo Care Centre is being run.

“Yes, we have noted the existence of challenges at the centre, but none of these are problems that cannot be solved,” he said.
Dlamini is the former Minister of Labour and Social Security.

Dlamini was speaking to the media after paying the orphanage a visit yesterday after reports that authorities at the centre were imposing Buddhism religion on the children, much against their will. He said the problems that were discovered at the centre were normal, especially when an institution was still new.

“These are just teething problems but we have made arrangements to have the school, within the orphanage, run according to Christian principles.
We have suggested that the teachers should continue to worship in their own way, but the children will be excused from this,” he said.
He explained that Buddhism was not the only foreign religion practiced in the country as other religious denominations run schools in the country without problems.

“We will ensure that the school at the centre be run according to rules provided by the Ministry of Education. We are asking for patience while we attend to the problems currently dogging the institution,” he said.

The former minister is Chairman of Philani Maswati organisation, which was responsible for introducing the centre in the kingdom.
Amitofo is not only based in the country but also has centres in countries such as Lesotho and Malawi, according to Dlamini.

... urged parents to calm down

NHLANGANO – Lutfo Dlamini has said he would ensure that the rights of orphans at Amitofo Care Centre were respected.
He urged critics and concerned parents yesterday to ‘calm down’, following reports that authorities at the centre were imposing their religion and cultures to the helpless children.

The centre is a Nhlangano-based orphanage run by Taiwanese nationals, which propagates Buddhism and the Eastern culture in the country.
It currently accommodates 82 orphans but the number could increase to 400, according to authorities.
The former minister was speaking to the media after an impromptu visit to the orphanage by a delegation from Philani Maswati organisation, which is in partnership with the centre.

Dlamini went to the centre in his capacity as chairman of the organisation, which also has Her Majesty the Queen Mother as its patron.
Last week, this newspaper reported that primary school pupils at the centre went on strike in protest against Buddhism religion, which is allegedly imposed on them by authorities at the centre.

In reaction to the story, Dlamini led a three-member delegation from Philani Maswati which went to the centre to ascertain the truth about the goings-on that have been reported in the media about the orphanage.
Also present during the former minister’s visit was Chief Malambule Mdluli.
Amitofo is situated at Makhonza, which falls under the jurisdiction of the traditional leader.

“The chief called me to register his disappointment over reports that have dogged the centre of late, and I decided to come to the place myself in order to get first hand information from the teachers at the school,” he said.
Dlamini said concerned citizens should rest assured that his organisation would get to the bottom of the matter.

He said all constitutionally guaranteed rights provided for in the country’s Constitution will be protected at the centre.
“Next week we will be sending another delegation here to meet with authorities on how best they can work, in order to avoid a clash of the involved cultures. While it should be noted that the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, it should also be taken into consideration that the children were also free to practice a religion of their choice” he said.
Dlamini said they were also working at sending a resident psychologist to the centre, who would be responsible of offering professional help to both the children and teachers.