MBABANE – It is said inspiration strikes when you least expect it, and for one local visionary, that spark has turned into a golden moment.
That is Colile ‘Ing’phile’ Zwane, who is the Information and Communications Officer for Municipal Council of Manzini.
Last Thursday night, at Esibayeni Lodge, Zwane was officially honoured for her winning design. This is the official logo for the 2026 Southern Africa InterMunicipal Sports Association (SAIMSA) Games.
It was a moment of pure creative success as the logo was unveiled during the launch of the games, which Eswatini is set to host in September.
Zwane’s creative stood head and shoulders above the rest, earning her a prestigious certificate of merit endorsed by the Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Appolo Maphalala.
Speaking on her journey from a blank canvas to a winning brand, ‘Ing’phile’ said she was a last-minute entry.
After a communiqué was sent out inviting all communications officers under the ministry to try their hand at the design, she decided to put her skills to the test.
“To be honest, it took me a while; about two days; just to conceptualise the vision,” she shared.
“I played around with different elements and ended up creating six or eight variations before submitting the final portfolio for selection.”
She ended up coming up with a logo which is a love letter to kingdom’s heritage. Zwane curated a colour palette inspired by the national flag. The blue colour headlines the logo, which she said symbolises the peace and stability that participants from South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, Botswana and Lesotho will experience in the kingdom.
In a clear nod to local culture, Zwane swapped the standard letter ‘I’ in the ESIGA (Eswatini Inter Municipal Games Association) acronym for the iconic feather of the Purple-crested Turaco (Ligwalagwala), which is associated with the royalty.
“The feather signifies that while our visitors will enjoy our peace and stability, they will also be treated to a royal sporting experience,” she explained.
The creative also thanked Manzini Public Relations Officer (PRO) Mathokoza Thwala for assistance during a three-day design marathon.
The SAIMSA Games are scheduled to run from September 20 to 26.
Colile Zwane receives her certificate of honour from Minister for Housing and Urban Development; Appolo Maphalala after her logo design was selected as the face of the 2026 SAIMSA Games. (Pic: Nimrod Hlophe)