MTN REJECTS SWAZI MOBILE LINKED PASTOR’S PRAYER

MBABANE – It might have been a perception that the competition between Swazi MTN and Swazi Mobile will result in acrimony between the two mobile companies and indeed the true sign of the bad blood has since emerged.

Apparently, Swazi MTN wants nothing with anyone who has links with Swazi Mobile regardless of what that person has to offer – even a prayer. This was evidenced by the alleged axing of Pastor Sikhumbuzo Shongwe from the SWAMA Awards Programme. Shongwe was supposedly lined up to dedicate the SWAMA Awards to God through a word of prayer just like he did when the awards were launched at Esibayeni Lodge earlier in the year.

 However, he was removed from the programme at the eleventh hour allegedly for being involved in the launch of Swazi Mobile Expirience Centre at The Gables in the morning of the previous day (Friday).  The SWAMA Awards event was held on Saturday, August 5, 2017.

Former Minister and Endzingeni Member of Parliament Lutfo Dlamini is the president of the association and he was reached for comment. Impeccable sources confided to the Times SUNDAY that the pastor was set to mark the starting of the event with a word of prayer but was allegedly removed due to the fact that he had suspected ties with Swazi Mobile.

Our sources went on to point out that the pastor’s Facebook page had coments where the pastor publicly declared his support for the new mobile company. “What made matters worse was the fact that on the same day of the event, Sikhumbuzo’s picture appeared in the Swazi News publication which was captured during the Swazi Mobile Expirience Centre opening in Ezulwini. Ironically, he also had the slot with us to open the awards with a prayer,” the source said.

The Times SUNDAY also learnt that a meeting was held prior to the event where it was concluded that the pastor be withdrawn. One of the sources said it was also feared that Shongwe might utilise the chance or the platform to promote the new mobile company at the detriment of  the host – Swazi MTN. “If things went wrong by allowing Sikhumbuzo to take part in the line-up, we were going to be asked as to why we allowed a Swazi Mobile ambassador to open an important MTN event,” said the source.

When the pastor was contacted, he wondered how this publication had got hold of the matter. However, he did confirm that the incident happened and said they (him and his wife) were very disappointed.
Shongwe pointed out that as a couple,  they had bought new outfits for the event since they knew that they were invited for the event. “Even at the launch of the awards at Esibayeni Lodge, I was appointed for the same role and I was told that even on the day of the main day, the programme would remain the same, but on the night I was told that I would not be part of the line-up,” explained Sikhumbuzo.

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