Africa-Press – Eswatini. Not in a million years did I think that I had something in common with the Prime Minister, Russell Mmiso Dlamini, however, it turns out we both attended the same lower school, Mqolo Primary School.
I learnt of this last Monday when ministers Prince Lonkhokhela and Mabulala Maseko visited the school during the tour of schools by Cabinet.
It turns out that since the June 2021 unrest my poor school has remained in ruins after it was torched. I think I’ve only met the PM twice or thrice while on assignment and our first encounter wasn’t a great one as I allegedly reported on something during one of the meetings he chaired when he was still CEO at the National Disaster Management Authority.
He denied ever making that statement, but I stood my ground. I do not know what happened to our beef, but I know whenever I tried to call him for any other story he would go “Hhayi ke lontfombatana wakaSukati” and hang up.
Whenever I worked on a NDMA story I would always ask my colleagues to call on my behalf because wow, His Excellency had a gripe with me.
I can only hope that this is all water under the bridge now because he clearly has a lot on his plate now than fighting with ‘Miss Sukati’. Anyway, I write this today because I was touched that our former school looks like this. For those who do not know where Mqolo Primary School is, it is in Mbabane, near Msunduza Township at a place called Corporation or to us who grew up here, eKopas.
I was supposed to have attended St Marks Primary, but my aunt had a bit of wine the night before and woke up way after the interview time. My mom was studying overseas and in Make Zanele’s (may her soul rest in peace) defence she wondered why I had to attend a school that was seven kilometres away, when Mqolo was just 800 metres from my Gogo’s house in Kopas, where we used to stay.
So that’s was how I ended up spending the next seven years of my primary school life at Mqolo.
beating
At that time the headteacher was a nice but strict man called Mr Mlambo and there was another called Mr Shabangu, who used to thrash us. I wonder if the PM got a beating from that guy, but abengeke ahlale.
Anyway, back to the state of our former school, I would advocate that it becomes one of the first to be prioritised on government’s list. It is only fair that one develops a soft spot for which ever school they attended.
It would worry me if schools such as those blown away by the December 8 storm were fixed before MQS (we used to call it) because that school suffered damage in 2021 and it is worrying that to date our government has done nothing about it. Perhaps one could start a drive, led by the PM of course for the alumni to do something to assist the school.
Speaking of the school visited by Cabinet, I am a bit torn on whether this is the right thing to do especially given the fuel that is spent while making these visits. I saw one convoy had about 10 cars and I was taken aback.
I do not know what Cabinet can do to fix this problem because on one hand they should have first-hand knowledge of what is happening in the schools, but they should take fewer cars in my opinion.
We have also noted a litany of challenges which are faced by the headteachers, but I must state that it is heart-breaking to hear the teachers highlight that some pupils have sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
This brings to light that many older men and women are taking advantage of these pupils, especially due to their financial disadvantage.
However, at another tour by the DPM Thuli Dladla to the Nhlangano welfare department, she also touched on an issue that sugar daddies should be arrested.
This did not go down well with some of my friends as the economy these days, young or old, requires you to have a sugar daddy (LOL). Anyway, I stray, while I commend Cabinet’s visit to schools, I personally think they should cut costs.
Why do over 15 officials have to visit one school and how much fuel is used, tear and wear to the cars. Maybe the Minister of Finance, Neal Rikenberg, can justify the spending as long as it has positive results.
But since Cabinet has listened to the King’s instruction that they should immediately roll up their sleeves and get to work I would advise the PM to do a nkwee in fixing Mqolo Primary School, because we certainly do not need reminders of that fateful June 2021.
Source: OBSERVER
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