Swazi Observer

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THREE YEARS LATER: RODNEY STILL MR ESWATINI

By Nokwanda Sibandze | 2021-01-18

IT has been three years since the crowning of the current Mr Eswatini.

While other pageants have taken a break only in 2020, Mr Eswatini pageant organisers last crowned the country’s representative in 2018.

The reigning Mr Eswatini, Rodney Lansberg was crowned in June 2018 along with his princes Wandile Dlamini and Wandile Zishwili.

While the pageant takes a year’s break after every crowning, it seems that there are no plans to host the pageant anytime soon.

The last pageant was organised by an individual, Linda Chester with the help of Eswatini National Arts and Culture and many other sponsors.

Chester stepped down from the position soon after the crowning of Lansberg.

Means to get hold of Lansberg for a comment proved futile as his phone was out of reach for the better part of yesterday. Speaking to Pageant of Eswatini President Catrine Potgieter, she said she was still trying to organise a meeting with ENCAC CEO Stanley Dlamini to discuss a way forward.

She said she would inform the public as soon as they make a decision on the continuation or cancellation of the pageant.

However, most pageants in the country have not announced any updates except for a few.

Potgieter revealed to this publication that Miss Eswatini would be hosted this year. In an interview in December last year, she said Miss Eswatini would be launched at the end of this month.

She said they would reveal their sponsors on the same day.

Potgieter shared that candidates who had already sent their applications should not send again and that they should not worry about being disqualified. She had mentioned that in January they would proceed with the recruiting process and entries would still be running until they announce the deadline. She emphasised that last year’s hopefuls should not apply this year since they already had their applications filed.

Potgieter said they received many applications in 2020, but due to COVID -19 the pageant could not take place.

The Miss Eswatini title is currently held by Nondumsio Dlamini, who took over from the originally crowned Nosipho Dlamini, after she left to further her studies in Taiwan.

Nondumiso has kept the title afloat by doing her bid, which includes helping out in various orphanages.

In December she also visited the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial HospitalNazarene children’s ward to donate food parcels, clothes and presents for Christmas.

However, she has also voiced out her difficulties in performing her duties during the pandemic, but said she would continue to do what she can until crowning of the next queen.

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