Distress as Thieves Break Into Nhlangano Central Primary School Computer Lab
The education community in Nhlangano has been left in distress following a break-in at Nhlangano Central Primary School, where thieves targeted the school’s computer laboratory and made away with equipment valued at E41,200.
The incident was discovered on 29 December 2025 at about 13:00 hours, when school authorities found that the computer lab had been unlawfully entered. The facility is used to introduce learners to basic computer skills, a resource that remains limited in many public schools across Eswatini.
The break-in comes against the backdrop of documented challenges facing the education sector, particularly in the integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in schools. According to a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) assessment, Eswatini has historically lacked a fully implemented ICT-in-Education policy, resulting in uneven access to digital learning tools and limited computer resources in many schools. The report notes that ICT initiatives have largely been fragmented and insufficiently resourced, especially outside urban centres
(see UNDP report: https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2024-12/dra_report_eswatini.pdf).
Academic research conducted in Eswatini further highlights that many schools face shortages of technological equipment, including computers, alongside infrastructure constraints such as limited electricity and internet connectivity. A 2023 study on technology integration in Eswatini schools found that lack of gadgets and inadequate ICT infrastructure remain major barriers to effective digital learning, particularly in rural areas
(https://ijcsrr.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/07-0310-2023.pdf).
Another education study focusing on digital equity reports that rural schools continue to lag behind urban schools in access to ICT resources, with limited computer availability cited as a key factor affecting learner exposure to digital skills
(https://iiari.org/wp-content/uploads/ijemds.v6.3.3614.pdf).
Parents and community members said the theft represents more than a financial loss, describing it as a setback to learners who already face limited access to technology. They expressed concern that incidents of this nature undermine efforts to close the digital gap in public education.
Police investigations later led to the arrest of two suspects—a 26-year-old man from Mhlabuyaduma and an 18-year-old teenager from Ncangosini. Authorities confirmed that all stolen property was recovered during the arrest, and the suspects are expected to appear in court as investigations continue.
Education stakeholders have called for stronger protection of school infrastructure, warning that the loss or disruption of scarce ICT resources makes an already difficult learning environment even more challenging for pupils.
