MR ESWATINI CONTESTANTS BLANK ABOUT PRIZES

MBABANE – With only 16 days left before the new Mr Eswatini is crowned, contestants are still in the dark when it comes to the prizes up for grabs this year.  

The Mr Eswatini pageant competition is currently hosting the top 10 contenders who will vie for the crown on December 16 at Happy Valley Hotel in Ezulwini. Despite the approaching crowning date, several contestants have expressed their frustration over the undisclosed prize details. One contestant, who wished to remain anonymous, shared their demotivation regarding the issue of undisclosed prizes. “We actually inquired about the prizes as a group, but the director did not provide us with clear answers. There was mention of a cellphone that the director was promoting for a specific brand. He informed us that the phone would be awarded to the contestant crowned as Mr Eswatini. Despite our repeated inquiries about additional prizes, he remained silent. This lack of information has been demoralising for us. We have put in a lot of effort into this competition, but everything feels uncertain,” expressed the contestant.

Informed

Another contestant echoed these sentiments, stating that they were not informed about any prizes. “We were told that sponsors would be obtained along the way, but we have not received any updates regarding that. Consequently, we have no knowledge of the prizes that will be awarded,” he explained. In an interview with former Miss Eswatini Director, Vinah Mamba, she explained that prize details are typically revealed when contestants are being encouraged to join the competition. “We used to disclose the prizes before inviting them to participate. It is unfair to have contestants enter the competition without knowing what they stand to win. When I was involved in pageants, I would publish the prize information in newspapers for everyone to see. Contestants would always inquire about the rewards or what was at stake. No one would join a competition without knowing what they are going to receive. The responsibility lies with the pageant director to inform the contestants about the prizes. It is disheartening to participate and not receive anything after winning,” Mamba shared.

This publication then reached out to the current Mr Eswatini Director, Mbonisi Ngcamphalala, to address the issue. He confirmed that the contestants have not been informed about the prizes that will be awarded on December 16 at Happy Valley Hotel during the crowning ceremony. “Yes, that is true. I have not yet received permission to disclose that information as I am also guided by certain protocols,” Ngcamphalala admitted.

Appropriate

When asked to provide contact information for the appropriate person to inquire about the prizes, Ngcamphalala declined, stating that the information had not yet been released. “If we are ready to reveal the prizes to the public, I’m sure they would want me to inform you. I apologise, but I cannot disclose that at this time,” he explained. An attempt was made to interview Pageants Eswatini Director Musa Mantinto, but he stated that the current Mr Eswatini Director was responsible for answering such inquiries. When questioned about the usual practice of revealing prizes at the beginning of the competition, Mantinto mentioned that this was the responsibility of the current director. “Well, these decisions are made by the director. So, I believe he would be best equipped to answer that,” he responded. Unfortunately, the current Mr Eswatini Director declined to continue the conversation, stating that he would inform this publication about the prizes once permitted to do so.

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