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‘MADZE’ IS NEW SPORTS MINISTER!

03/11/2018 04:20:00 BY THEMBA ZWANE

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The Mbabane East Member of Parliament (MP), whose contract was not renewed by the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) after steering the national outfit to a historic bronze medal in the regional COSAFA tournament in 2016, has stepped into shoes of David ‘Cruiser’ Ngcamphalala.

The latter, who held the post in the previous Cabinet, has been deployed to the Minister of Tinkhndla Administration and Development.
The new Cabinet was announced by new Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini yesterday following an appointment by His Majesty King Mswati III. The announcement was made during a press conference at the Cabinet offices in Mbabane.

The seasoned coach and Science teacher said he was shocked by the appointment, expressing his gratitude to Their Majesties for the vote of confidence.
“It’s a huge task.
“I’m from football, but I will work with all associations to develop sport,” he said briefly.
Supreme sport bodies in the country in Eswatini Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (EOCGA) and SNSRC welcomed the appointment. SNSRC is the Swaziland National Sport and Recreation Council.

EOCGA CEO Sydney Simelane stressed that it was an exciting moment for the fraternity as the minister was a sportsman at heart. Simelane’s words were echoed by his counterpart at SNSRC Darius Dlomo, who highlighted that ‘Madze’ was the rightful person to take the baton from fellow avid sportsman David ‘Cruiser’ Ngcamphalala.

“We’re honoured to be given another sportsman as a Sports minister.
“We’re excited, it is becoming a trend,” said Dlomo.

statement

EFA President Adam ‘Bomber’ Mthethwa’s phone rang unanswered, but the country’s football mother body eventually released a statement.
“The Football Association hereby expresses a congratulatory note to Honourable Harries Bulunga on his appointment as Minister in the portfolio of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs.

“As an association under his portfolio; the football association hereby also commits to assist him as he discharges his responsibilities conferred to him by Their Majesties,” read a statement from EFA.

Meanwhile, the appointment of a new Sports minister expectedly comes with renewed hope and expectations. One of the key issues to be on Bulunga’s table will be ensuring the enactment of the Sport Bill into an Act.

The Act will ensure there is an exception for key sports-supporting organisations from paying levy by government. The Act will further establish the SNSRC as a body administering sports in the country. Currently, the SNSRC is established through the Swaziland Sports Policy.

Bulunga, on the other hand, becomes the country’s third Sports minister. The department became a fully-fledged ministry in 2008. First to lead the ministry was former Pigg’s Peak MP Hlobisile Ndlovu. Ngcamphalala could only sing praises to the King for the appointment when sought for comment and politely asked to say more at a later stage.