Hlane shines, ex-champs unlucky

SITEKI – As the regional Ingwenyama Cup culture competitions wrapped up the stage, it was still an unfinished story in some categories.

The Lubombo staged its final regional eliminations competitions in Siteki yesterday. It was thrills as the regional teams contested for the final five slots of the competitions.

However, the list of emajaha regiments to compete to compete for the E50 000 on the jackpot on national phase remains incomplete.

This follows that the emajaha category winner was not revealed in Lubombo, following a protest by one of the chiefdoms.

Results

Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture (ENCAC) Chief Executive Officer Stanley Dlamini said the results would not be announced until the protest was resolved.

Notably, there were three chiefdoms who competed for supremacy. Emajaha from Mpolonjeni were first to take the stage, followed by those from KaLanga and KaPhunga wrapped it up.

This category under the national phase carries a E75 000 prize.

On another note, lutsango from Hlane excelled as they booked their finals spot. They scored 92.6 per cent, while 2020 winners KaLanga fell to the fourth spot.

Engevini chiefdom’s sibhaca cruised to the finals, after recording 80 per cent, while Lomahasha settled for second spot, worth E5 000, with 76.5 per cent.

Meanwhile, KaMkhweli edged out Engevini by 0.5 per cent to become Lubombo’s representatives under indlamu. They scored 85.5 per cent, while Engevini fell to second spot. However, Senzo Dlamini was the winner in the praise singers’ category.

(More reports in tomorrow’s publication)

(At Siteki Sports Ground) (Pics: Nimrod Hlophe) Lutsango Regiment from Hlane was crowned the Lubombo regional Ingwenyama Cup culture competition winners yesterday at Siteki Sports Ground. They scored 92.6 per cent and they are with (back row) Culture Competitions Chairperson Prince Bukhosi and Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Bongani Nzima.

Sizolwethu Motsa was the winner in the praise singers’ junior category. He received E500 from the Culture Competions Chairperson Prince Bukhosi while Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs looks on.