KING MSWATI III INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT UNVEILED
SIKHUPHE – The new airport at Sikhuphe has been given a name – it will now be known as King Mswati III International Airport.
His Majesty King Mswati III unveiled the new name yesterday during a glittering ceremony held at the airport.
Sikhuphe and surrounding areas became alive yesterday as celebrations for the opening of the new airport lasted until well into the evening.
Sounds of powerful fireworks reverberated along the entire Sikhuphe area and decorated the sky as His Majesty officially cut the ribbon and unveiled the new name to mark the much-awaited official opening of the international airport.
The time was exactly 6:32pm and scores of people, including members of the royal family, couldn’t help but dance, applaud and congratulate the King and the whole country for the achievement.
Presenting his speech earlier in the day, the King, kept the audience in suspense as he did not reveal the new name of the airport.
He deviated from the usual norm where he simply announces the name of a new structure during his address. This time His Majesty had the audience guessing as he took time and did not immediately reveal the airport’s name.
Instead he told a story about a guest who had paid him a courtesy visit after inspecting the airport.
“I asked one of my guests to come here, inspect and make comments and one of them told me that he thought that since he had heard that the King is the one who gives a name to a new child, he had already thought of assisting me in that assignment.
“I told him it was good that he was willing to assist in this regard and he would be counted among those who gave a name to the jungle. He then asked me to keep this matter a secret,” he said.
His Majesty said the guest told him that he would discuss the matter with other colleagues.
What intrigued most people was that the King said he also had no idea what the name of the airport was and he would get to know it after the unveiling later on. “Watsi utayitsatsa ayoyiteka nalabanye kubonakalise kutsi leligama liyimfihlo. Angati ke nami kutsi njengobe liyimfihlo name ngitawetfuka ngitsi kantsi bowentani,” he said amid loud screams of Bayethe.
In the evening, the proceedings moved to the main terminal entrance where the King was invited to cut the ribbon and unveil the plaque.
As His Majesty did this, two men were already on stand-by at the front top of the building and they unveiled the huge engraving of ‘KING MSWATI III INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT’, much to the delight of many people.
It was a sight to behold indeed as His Majesty mingled with people, took pictures and generally had a light moment while powerful firecrackers lit the sky on the background.
His Majesty was also asked to plant a tree next to the main entrance.
After that he toured the state-of-the art structure and was showed the different sections of the airport by experts and architects.
By 7pm, festivities were still ongoing at as the King took time to tour all parts of the new airport.
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