Times Of Swaziland: MISS SD COMMITTEE  REFUSES TO DIVULGE PRIZES

MISS SD COMMITTEE  REFUSES TO DIVULGE PRIZES
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BY THOBEKA MANYATHELA and NHLANHLA MATHUNJWA on 27/11/2013 03:45:00


MBABANE – Miss Swaziland Samukelisiwe Magagula and her princesses have still
not received their prizes two weeks after crowning.
Making the issue even worse is the fact that the committee is refusing to
divulge the prizes. This is despite the fact that the prize presentation was
supposed to be held last weekend but was postponed.
The committee abruptly cancelled the presentation citing the rainy weather as
cause for cancellation. The prize presentation has now been postponed to
December 8, 2013. When Mkhululi  Maziya Miss Swaziland PRO was asked to at least
name the main prize for the queen he refused on the grounds that it was meant to
be a ‘suprise’ .
In previous years it has always been the norm to have Miss Swaziland prizes
publicised weeks before the event but this year the pageant directors are
playing the cards close to their chest.  Arts and Culture CEO Stanley Dlamini,
during a press briefing last year for Miss Teen 2012/13, made an announcement
that all beauty licence holders would be required to declare their prizes and
present them to his office prior to the finals. These prizes were supposed to
then be kept in the Arts and Culture storage.
This, according to Dlamini, was to make sure that organisers did not take
contestants for a ride. However, this has not been the case with the Miss
Swaziland pageant.
When called for comment, Dlamini assured the public that the winners would get
their prizes as the Miss Swaziland Beauty Pageant Committee assured them that
the winners had prizes.
“Although I was not part of the presentation as I was on leave, I am aware
that the committee asked to postpone because of some negotiations between one of
the sponsors and them. I think they had a valid reason that made them take such
a decision,” he said.
Convince
The CEO said during their meeting with the committee, the committee’s
explanation convinced them and that is the reason why they strongly believe that
the winners would get their prizes.
“In our meeting, they mentioned certain things which convinced us and I can
say in as far as we are concerned, the winners are yet to get what they were
promised,” he said.
Dlamini also urged those companies who agreed to sponsor the pageant to assist
them in making sure that they get the prizes on time so the presentation can
continue.
“For now, there is nothing abnormal. We believe the presentation will be held
as per the committee’s promise,” he said.