Swazi Observer

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PAY US FOR MISS ESWATINI INTERVIEW – PROMOTERS

By OBSERVER REPORTERS | 2024-12-13

In a troubling move, directors of the Miss Eswatini pageant, represented by Oukitel, have declared that the newly-crowned Miss Eswatini and her princesses will not be featured in any newspaper without payment.

This revelation came after this newspaper proposed an interview to feature the winners – as per tradition once the beauty pageant has crowned its winners.

The queen and her princesses are usually interviewed on their experiences and their road to success.

The pageant returned this year after a two-year hiatus, with much anticipation, thus rekindling hope among Emaswati for the revival of a once-respected national pride.
However, organisers of the pageant have displayed brazen levels of unprofessionalism laced with arrogance.

This includes denying journalists entry to the pageant finals at the Happy Valley Hotel a fortnight ago, despite efforts by officials that this was unheard of.

invited
Despite having been invited to cover the event as part of their professional duties, journalists were left stranded outside for an hour and 30 minutes, treated as if they were unwelcome intruders.

A representative of the pageant wanted journalists to pay E350 each for entry into the event.
Efforts to resolve the matter, including interventions by ENCAC CEO Stanley Dlamini, proved futile until Mathokoza Sibiya, a board member of the Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture (ENCAC), stepped in to address the unacceptable situation.

declined
Yesterday, the organisers declined the request for an interview with the queen. The representative explicitly stated that the pageant was a ‘money-making business’ and insisted that the media should pay for any coverage.

Oukitel’s involvement with the Miss Eswatini pageant was initially met with optimism.

After their failed attempt to organise the pageant in 2023, their 2024 efforts appeared promising, with the announcement of a car as a prize for the winner—a first since 2011.
Emaswati were excited by the selection process, which began in June and saw the announcement of the Top 25 participants in August.

By September, the Top 10 contestants had already won the hearts of the public through their community engagements and sponsorship efforts, inspiring hope that the pageant’s lost glory was finally being restored.

However, these promising developments have been overshadowed by Oukitel’s questionable practices and their apparent prioritisation of profit over the dignity of the pageant, the media, and Emaswati at large.

This disappointing behaviour raises serious questions about Oukitel’s suitability to lead a national institution like Miss Eswatini.

However, ENCAC asked not to comment on the situation.
“For now, can we just respect that Miss Eswatini is bereaved and see that through.
“Due to that we have lost the opportunity to see her contract which was meant to be presented to her at the prize presentation scheduled for yesterday.

stipulate
“The contract will stipulate how she relates to institutions like corporate and exempted institutions,” said the CEO.

He added that Miss Eswatini was a national pageant and therefore no one could deny the media access to her.

Dlamini said the contract was yet be handed to Miss Eswatini Temvelo Mtsefwa, which would specify exactly how she goes handles the media.

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