Africa-Press – Eswatini. Three journalists have joined seven others who once stood and won elections to Parliament.
There are now 10 members of the fourth estate who have entered the book of records. These are –
* Marwick Khumalo – Lobamba Lomdzala
* Mahlaba Mamba – Dvokodvweni
* S’gayoyo Magongo – Lobamba Lomdzala
* Enock Cedusizi Ndlovu – Matsanjeni
* Rodgers Mamba – Mkhiweni
* Hlobisile Ndlovu – Pigg’s Peak
* Sibusiso Nkambule (late) – Kwaluseni
* Welcome Dlamini – Mbabane East
* Alec Lushaba – Hhukwini
* Nathi Hlophe – Mtfongwaneni
The serving journalists are MP Marwick Khumalo, who has been in office since 1998, Mbabane East MP Welcome Dlamini, Mtfongwaneni MP Nathi Hlophe and Hhukwini MP Alec Lushaba. MP Dlamini is the former Deputy Weekend Editor for the Times of Eswatini, while Lushaba served as the managing editor of Eswatini Financial Times. Lushaba also spent a number of years with the Times of Eswatini and Swazi Observer. MP Hlophe worked for Eswatini Broadcasting and Information Services (EBIS) as a journalist and sports commentator.
Meanwhile, the first journalists to win the general elections were Marwick Khumalo and Mahlaba Mamba, the former Sports Editor for Eswatini Observer and current Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Eswatini to the African Union (AU).
Minister
Mamba became the minister of natural resources and energy towards the latter stage of his career as an MP, while Khumalo served as a Speaker. It must be said that the now Lobamba Lomdzala MP had left EBIS to venture into private business when he was elected to Parliament. He was elected by the people of Lobamba. He later moved to Lobamba Lomdzala. In the general elections to set up the 12th Parliament, three scribes secured seats. Other journalists who participated in the election and were unsuccessful included Mphilo Dlamini, Vusi Sibisi, the late Pat Jele and Thabiso Benedict Dlamini, the current Head of the Lubombo Regional Labour Office. It must be said that Jele had gone to cover the election around Bhunya when he was nominated for the position of MP. This was during the 1998 general elections to set up the 7th Parliament. The Independent, a United Kingdom publication, mentioned 10 journalists who became successful politicians. These are Winston Churchill, who was a correspondent for the Morning Post for a year during the Boer war.
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