Territorial dispute costs 41 aspiring army recruits
SITHOBELA – Territorial boundary wars reared their ugly head yesterday during the army recruitment exercise, when 41 aspiring soldiers from Nokwane Umphakatsi under Sithobela Inkhundla and further encroached to Ngudzeni Inkhundla in the Shiselweni Region were turned back.
Ngudzeni and Sithobela are two tinkhundla centres separating the Lubombo and Shiselweni regional boundaries. Yesterday, Manqoba Dlamini, who came to try his luck with other 40 aspiring soldiers, was turned back after their imiphakatsi bucopho claimed that they were not their subjects.
The army personnel escorted the 41 aspiring soldiers who had queued to be checked for their indetity with their chiefdom codes if they qualified to be part of the army recruitment exercise under the Sithobela Inkhundla.
Manqoba tried to explain to the army personnel and further went as far as bringing his voter cards to cement his assertion that he was eligible to be part of the recruitment exercise, but he was shown the exit gate.
VOTER
When showing his identity and voter cards, it proved his claims as it showed that he was a subject of Nokwane Umphakatsi under the Sithobela Inkhundla.
He further stated that he voted under the Sithobela Inkhundla under his Nokwane Umphakatsi but he was baffled by the latest developements that he was not a Nokwane Umphakatsi subject.
“It’s a pity that even our bucopho has refuted knowledge of me yet I know him. Nokwane Umphakatsi is situated between the boundaries separating the two regions, Shiselweni and Lubombo and many of us vote under Sithobela,” he said.
When asked to shed light on the matter, Nokwane Umphakatsi Sifiso Khumalo said hi decision to chuck out those not eligible to participate in the army recruitment exercise was by virtue of not being subjects of his chiefdom.
“I know the Dlamini guy and he is from Ngudzeni and even if the voter card shows that he voted under Sithobela, there was confusion during the registration process hence some of the people were captured on the wrong chiefdoms they don’t belong. We hope this anomaly will not happen again,” he said.
An elderly under the Nokwane Umphakatsi, Babe Dlamini also alleged that Manqoba was a rightful subject of the Nokwane Umphakatsi under the Sithobela Inkhundla.
UNFAIR
“It’s unfair that the young boy wanted to try his luck but has been denied this opportunity. I know him and his family and many of those who were turned back belong under this inkhundla. We will take action on this matter because our children are now suffering due to the boundary wars between the two tinkhundla centres,” he said.
At this constituency, slightly over 150 aspiring soldiers took part in this recruitment exercise and were watched by over 400 spectators while undergoing their exercises.
Siphofaneni Inkhundla Indvuna Fanyana Mamba thanked His Majesty the King for availing the opportunity for the youth to join the army. “We are grateful to His Majesty and we congratulate those who won and encourage those who missed out today to try their luck in the next recruitment process,” he said.
The winners at this constituency were Delisa Nhleko, Sonnyboy Ngwenya, Thokozani Shongwe, Mciniseli Nxumalo, Nonkazimulo Mamba and Kholiwe Dlamini.
In another interesting incident that unfolded at this inkhundla, Ndumiso Dlamini who turned 36 years in the past seven days pleaded with the army to allow him to be part of the recruitment process. “I just turned 36 on July 1 just few days ago. May I be allowed to participate,” he pleaded but the army personnel told him that only people in the 18-35 age group were eligible to be part of the process.