Maseru, Sept 19— The High Court has dismissed an application in which 70 teachers who have been acting as principals for their respective primary schools were challenging issues surrounding their acting appointments.
The applicants have argued that they acted beyond the legitimate acting period without being permanently or substantively appointed as the principals. They added that they have been discriminated against as there are equally, or even less, qualified individuals who are being employed on a permanent and pensionable basis.
They further argued that the government has failed and/or refused to consistently pay their salaries as acting principals adding that this is a violation of their rights to property, dignity and freedom against modern slavery.
In its judgment, the court stated that it cannot grant declarators that the applicants have been subjected to slavery, discrimination and inhuman or degrading treatment. It added that the non-payment of their acting allowances, while unjust, is not a constitutional matter and does not call for a declaration that it is unconstitutional.
It indicated that apart from failing to prove discrimination, the case of mandamus for non-payment of allowances has not been made…SM/BM
