Education

MBABANE - In order to stabilise and reform financial management at UNESWA, a recommendation has been made that a forensic audit of the institution be instituted.

This is one of nine recommendations that have been made by the task team which was appointed by the Ministry of Education and Training, following growing concerns regarding challenges faced by the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) including issues related to governance, administrative efficiency, financial management and academic standards.

Yesterday, the final report of the probe was presented to the leadership of the institution and is expected to be tabled in Parliament today, as reflected in the Order Paper.

In the final report, it is stated that the recommendations made represent aggressive but necessary measures to stabilise and reform financial management at UNESWA.

“By instituting a forensic audit, temporarily outsourcing finance operations to experts and addressing governance failures in income-generating entities, UNESWA can rapidly transition from financial dysfunction to a model of accountability and sustainability,” reads part of the report.

The task team said there was a need to be bold and aggressive in the consideration of the recommendations to address the immediate and critical financial challenges at UNESWA.

It was mentioned that these actions aim for rapid, transformative changes that prioritise financial discipline, accountability and operational efficiency.

In instituting the immediate forensic audit, the task team recommended that the required action is to engage an independent forensic audit firm to investigate financial mismanagement, focusing on irregular expenditures, fraud and non-compliance with statutory obligations.

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Strained relationship between UNESWA, govt

MBABANE - A strained relationship between UNESWA and government has been cited as one of the causes of the mess that the latter has become over the years.

In its final report, the UNESWA Task Team which probed the institution said it uncovered that the relationship between the two institutions is strained, marked by inconsistent subvention disbursements and disagreements over tuition fee policies.

The task team said these tensions disrupt the university’s financial stability, affecting its ability to pay salaries, manage utilities and run academic programmes.

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No performance management system

MBABANE - The University of Eswatini does not have a performance management system for its staff members.

This is a finding that was made by the task team which looked into the operations of the institution and the challenges it has faced over the years.

The finding was that there is no system or mechanism to measure, monitor and correct performance issues or lack of in the institution.

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Former registrar usurped powers of running UNESWA

MBABANE - A former registrar of the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) has been accused of having usurped powers of running the institution.

This is a finding that has been made by the task team which was appointed to probe the challenges faced by the institution.

In its final report, the task team said that it uncovered leadership gaps and operational inefficiencies at the institution. The task team said there is a lack of leadership capacity at the senior management level which has exacerbated governance issues at UNESWA.

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Dissolve council, replace with skilled professionals

MBABANE - “Everything rises and falls in the hands of leaders.”

This is a quote used by the UNESWA Task Team in its recommendation for things that can be addressed in the short term to turn the university towards a path of functionality and sustainability.

In its findings, the task team said that the size and composition (being 24 members) hinders efficient decision-making, rendering the council an ineffective structure and consequently, all structures below it suffer from the same ineffectiveness.

This bloated structure results in protracted deliberations and conflicting interests among council members.

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Dictatorship leadership style perception uncovered

MBABANE - The UNESWA Task Team has uncovered that one of the challenges faced by the institution is the perception of a dictatorship leadership style.

In its final report, which has been made public by the Minister for Education and Training, Owen Nxumalo, the task team said it uncovered that there is a perception of a dictatorship style of leadership by the chairpersons of the University Council, a style that permeates to lower tier leadership structures of the institution.

*Full article available in our publication.

Minister Owen Nxumalo handing over the UNESWA Task Team report to the Vice Chancellor Justice Thwala. (Pics: Ntombi Mhlongo)

Minister for Education and Training Owen Nxumalo handing over the task team report to the UNESWA deans of faculties.