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... OVER 5 000 ATTEND

18/09/2022 16:08:00 Mhlonishwa Motsa

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SIPHOFANENI – Numbers have always been the centre of attention in MP LaZwide’s thanksgiving celebration after she was forced to move out of the inkhundla centre as authorities anticipated a huge crowd.

It turned out that over 5 000 people attended the event, which was marred by controversy and conflict between the Siphofaneni Member of Parliament (MP) LaZwide, whose real name is Nomalungelo Simelane and the Lubombo Regional Administrator Themba Msibi. Msibi and Simelane played a back and forth following an order issued by Msibi, directing Simelane to postpone her thanksgiving from September 3, 2022 to any date after September 11, 2022. Simelane chose September 17 (yesterday) only to be told by Msibi, that since she had invited a lot of people, she could not have the event at the inkhundla centre which has a capacity of 2 000 people. The event eventually happened yesterday at God’s Grace Miracle Point International in Phuzamoya, which was an alternative venue.

The event kicked-off at about 11:30am with award-winning Gospel artist Scara Maziya. Maziya set the tone for the day with a scintillating performance, as other big artists such as Shiba and Travellers, Siphumelele Mbambo and M Nation followed suit. More people arrived as the day went by and the numbers clearly increased from an estimated 900 at noon, to almost 3 000 by 2:30pm and estimated over 5 000 by 5pm. The programme director for the day was Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO) Spokesperson, Thantaza Silolo and he had a tough time controlling the energetic audience as they occasionally sang struggle songs.

Speaking during the event, LaZwide thanked the people of Siphofaneni and all those who attended the event for making it possible. She highlighted that it was not easy as they had to make a lot of changes, but they were grateful that it worked out for the good. “When I am looking at the number of people in the venue and how you all arrived safely and have been at your best behaviour I realise that you actually love me. I want to assure you that I love you all and I want to further thank the leadership of the church for opening up the premises and allowing me to have my event here. It worked for the good that we moved to a place of prayer and peace and therefore I want to applaud you for making it despite the many changes,” she said.

encouraged

LaZwide further introduced one of her guests, Hlobisile Dlamini from the Swaziland Action Group Against Abuse (SWAGAA) who encouraged the MP to remain truthful to herself and her own calling as a leader. She said the MP does not owe anyone anything and was in Parliament as a member who had her own mandate to follow. “We are here to show our support to the MP and to assure her that as a woman she does not owe anyone for her position. The only thing she needs to take care of is the mandate she has received from the people of this area. She is not in Parliament to fill any quota just because she is a woman and she does not owe the world any explanation and should she follow any ideology. She is there as a person and we want to assure her of our support as women and that we will be cheering her on in everything she does in the house,” said Dlamini.

The crowd was formulated mostly by members of SWALIMO and the national leadership of the organisation was also present during the event. Speaking on behalf of the organisation which was formed by LaZwide’s husband Mduduzi ‘Gawuzela’ Simelane, Deputy Secretary General (DSG) Gift Dlamini said they were proud of LaZwide as a member of the organisation and wife to their president. “We could not have asked for anyone better than the MP and through her we will be demonstrating to the world that the real democracy is found in SWALIMO. We have created a mandate that we want to share with her and give her as she go to the House of Parliament. “There are so many things that are very important to the people we want to highlight that as she go to Parliament, let the issue of increasing the minimum wage and the elderly grant be her priority. We want her to further push the issue of free education that it must not end at primary school because it does not add any value in the lives of the pupils,” said Dlamini. The event was graced by a number of Gospel artists such as Gcina Masuku and DJ Lolo, who kept the audience dancing for the better part of the day.