Africa-Press – Eswatini. A determined Form 5 learner of Ndwandwe High School under Ngwemphisi Inkhundla has claimed victory in the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) recruitment race, opening the door to what could be life-changing opportunities.
The race, held in the afternoon of Saturday, 27 September 2025, at Ngwemphisi Inkhundla Centre, drew hundreds of hopefuls all vying for a coveted place in the national army. The aspiring soldiers were accompanied by their friends and relatives, who also came in hundreds, to give them moral support. Competitors were pushed to their limits in a gruelling two-fold 3.2-kilometre sprint, designed to test both speed and endurance.
The Winners
Thembinkosi Mavimbela (20) powered to the finish line in just 12 minutes, securing the top male position. Having started training from 2023, Mavimbela’s persistence finally paid off. Mavimbela is currently doing Form 5 at Ndwandwe High School and he plans to join the military soon after he finishes school. Mvuselelo Ngwenya, Mavimbela’s teacher and coach, congratulated the sprinter and wished him the best in the army. He said they started in 2023 and from there, he had been training him to become a good athlete.
Second place went to Khayalethu Dlamini (28), another young man from Ngwemphisi. Dlamini now looks forward to the stability of permanent employment. Running has been Dlamini’s lifestyle, as he runs for His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS) Athletics Team. He has been unemployed and he looks forward to improve his lifestyle, now that he is on the verge of joining the UEDF.
In the women’s category, Temantimandze Ngwenya (19) is the youngest among the winners. Ngwenya stunned onlookers as she ran barefoot through the challenging course to claim the top spot. When she started the race, she had been wearing her spikes, but decided to remove them from her feet during the course of the race.
Ngwenya dreams of becoming a doctor one day and she still has an opportunity of becoming one, as doctors are needed within the UEDF. The organisation manages clinics around the country, which also helps in giving medical services to the general public.
Mandla Herbert Ngwenya, Temantimandze’s father, is over the moon over what was done by his beloved daughter. Mandla said when he heard His Majesty King Mswati III announcing in March that UEDF would be recruiting, he wasted no time in encouraging his daughter to start preparing for the recruitment exercise. His daughther had a problem that she wanted to be a doctor and she was worried that a job in the army would be a distraction. However, Mandla advised his daughter that she could still achieve her dream of becoming a doctor, as UEDF managed health institutions.
The Rules of Selection
Under the UEDF recruitment guidelines, only the top two male finishers and the leading female qualify for the next phase. This includes vetting, medical examinations, and further assessments to ensure that only the most resilient candidates advance to enlistment.
Unlike in previous years, this year’s Ngwemphisi recruitment did not include additional exercises after the run – making the race the sole deciding factor in selection. If a tie did take place between top finishers, especially in the first and second position, those involved in the tie would be required to do press-ups. The one to give up first would be considered as having failed.
A Race of Hope
For many of the hundreds who participated, the Mangcongco race was more than a competition. It was a test of resilience in the face of unemployment and uncertainty. While not everyone secured a spot, the stories of Shabangu, Hlophe, and Shiba symbolise the struggles and aspirations of countless Eswatini youth.
As the UEDF continues its nationwide recruitment drive, Mangcongco has become a shining example of determination and endurance. The three winners now carry the hopes of their families and their community as they prepare for the next stage in their journey to serve the nation.
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