‘BIRDS’ ELDERS COUNCIL DIVIDED

LOBAMBA – It seems a power struggle is looming within Mbabane Swallows’ Council of Elders.

This follows an announcement suggesting that Absalom Mvana Ngwenya, who was previously the council’s Chairperson, is no longer holding the position. The announcement was made by the new Chairperson, Robert Magongo, yesterday during a press conference held at Mshosholozi Restaurant at Lobamba. Magongo said this announcement came as a resolution taken on March 23 during a meeting held at the Happy Valley Hotel. He alleged that Ngwenya was invited to the meeting but did not attend.

Magongo said during this elders meeting with former President Archbishop Bheki Lukhele, it was decided that they would stop taking further actions until the season concludes to avoid disrupting the performance of the MTN Premier League champions. “We understand that there was Mr Ngwenya who referred himself as Mbabane Swallows’ elder and its Chairperson (Council of Elders). So as elders, we don’t know that and we ended up electing a new executive, where I’m the chairperson and Cyprian Ginindza is my deputy while Enock Nkosi is the Secretary General (SG),” said the former Member of Parliament. Nkosi served in the same position under the leadership of Ngwenya.

Absentia

The other members of the six-member committee are Phindile Gwebu, and Bongani Dlamini, who was unveiled in absentia as well as Alfred Mathunjwa. “We want to make it plainly clear that anyone who tries to speak on behalf of the Mbabane Swallows’ elders besides us will not be representing us. We want to put it on record that we are the Council of Elders. We’re not self-appointed but as per the 2018 constitution, Mr Ngwenya is not the Chairperson of the elders, but one of Swallows supporters,” Magongo further said. He also called on other members to join them and fulfil their constitutional duties. Magongo, who has also played and served in various positions at ‘Birds’, said some of these duties included liaising with the club leadership.

He further emphasised the need to reinforce a clear structure of hierarchy in the team. Meanwhile, Ngwenya, when reached for comment, was eager to share his perspective but was in a meeting at the time this report was compiled. He promised to promptly address the issue, along with some of the Council of Elders members whom he believes are still in power.

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