Times Of Swaziland: Cops called as Nhlambeni  residents given free rice

Cops called as Nhlambeni  residents given free rice
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 BY LINDA JELE on 13/08/2013 04:25:00


NHLAMBENI – The police were called at Nhlambeni when a South African
organisation donated 100 bags of rice to residents.
The donation was suspected by some residents and aspiring MPs to be a campaign
strategy by former Nhlambeni MP Frans Dlamini.
However, Dlamini was not present at the event. About 100 bags of rice were
donated to the residents by Sushi Foundation, a charity organisation based in
South Africa.
The event was held at Nhlambeni Nazarene Church premises where the beneficiaries
were registered by the organisation’s volunteers before receiving the
donation.
According to Sushi Foundation’s commissioner Gladys Ngema, the organisation is
headquartered in the Republic of China on Taiwan, but working worldwide.
She said the organisation was working hand in hand with Philani Maswati charity
organisation. She said they visited various communities countrywide to donate
food and care for the needy.
The complaint was filed by other residents and people who were nominated to be
Members of Parliament under Nhlambeni.
One of the MP nominees, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said it was unfair
because it was the second time Sushi Foundation was donating in the Nhlambeni
community.
“When the foundation made the donation about three weeks ago, the former MP
was present. In fact he was the one who facilitated their visit the last time.
He has been reported to be away now,” claimed the source.
An inside source, in an interview, said Dlamini had called one of the residents
and told them to convene at the centre and meet the organisation’s
representatives to receive the donation.
Dlamini was reportedly in South Africa.
Ngema clarified that the donated rice were leftovers from material that had been
donated during Philani Maswati’s charity event held at Bhunya recently.  She
further explained that the donation was not a campaign strategy by any aspiring
MP.
“We link with health motivators in the communities and our volunteers identify
the people who should benefit.
“Our volunteers always ensure that there is transparency in the manner the
recipients are selected, to avoid the impression that we are campaigning,”
Ngema said.
She said they merely reported to that particular area’s authorities, but
ensured that there was no interference.
“We, however, informed Dlamini (former MP) of our visit, but he was never
involved,”
Dlamini, when called on the matter, said the Sushi Foundation worked hand in
hand with Philani Maswati.
“They had donated food in the past and remembered us again.
“As far as I know, it is Sushi Foundation’s routine to donate in various
communities in the country. It has nothing to do with campaigning and I never
played a part in that,” Dlamini said.
He said the other nominees should have been happy that there were organisations
donating to the needy and hungry community of Nhlambeni.