By Musa Mdluli

MBABANE:Mhlelisi Gama(23) who won the Phase one(I) of the Army recruitment at Nhlambeni Inkhundla first participated at Mkhiweni last week as rampant corruption intensifies during the ongoing recruitment.

This has been proven through pictures and videos where Gama was seen at Mkhiweni Inkhundla running together with other hopefuls and wearing the same clothes including the same sneakers.

As a result, Gama has been confirmed through a brief investigation conducted by this Swaziland News to have participated in two(2) different Tinkhundla Centres after sources sent a tip-off, reporting the alleged corruption. He then rushed to participate at Nhlambeni Inkhundla and won after the failed Mkhiweni process and subsequent postponement announced by Brigadier General Thabo Luhlanga.

It is alleged that, even the postponement at Mkhiweni Inkhundla was highly questionable with allegations suggesting that, the process was cancelled to allow other aspiring soldiers “who are not residents of Mkhiweni to participate but planted by the Army authorities to participate”.

Reached for comments by this Swaziland News, Army Spokesperson Lieutenant Tengetile Khumalo referred comments to General Sotja Dlamini.

“The Office of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence  Force Commander assigned Brigadier General Sotja Dlamini to respond to any concerns regarding the recruitment exercise. So for any lnformation required concerning the on going recruitment exercise, kindly touch base with the General appointed,” said the Army Spokesperson.

But General Sotja Dlamini was not immediately available for a comment regarding this matter.

On another note, Nhlambeni Member of Parliament(MP) Manzi Zwane said the purpose of recruiting within the Tinkhundla Centres “is grossly undermined if aspiring soldiers from other areas” will be allowed to participate.

“The King said everyone must participate in his home area and we are expecting the people of Nhlambeni Inkhundla to be given a fair chance to join the Army. Sifuna umuntfu lesitamkhomba kutsi nakuya ekhaya kubo”, said the MP when addressing journalists this week.

Mhlelisi Gama who claimed to be from Masundvwini, emerged victorious in the 3.2 kilometers race at Nhlambeni Inkhundla while Simphiwe Nkambule secured the second spot.

This means should Gama be disqualified for alleged fraud after participating in two(2) different Tinkhundla Centres, Simphiwe Nkambule will proceed to the next stages of the Army recruitment.

On another note, Swaziland News editor Zweli Martin Dlamini urged emaSwati to continue reporting suspicious corruption to this publication to ensure transparency throughout the recruitment process.

The editor earlier alleged that, Army Commander Moses Mashikilisane Fakudze allegedly planted some Army hopefuls who were assisted by their parents or relatives to pay bribes and, might join the Army as if they were recruited within the various Tinkhundla Centres.

But a source very close to the matter told this publication on Wednesday evening that, some of the aspiring soldiers “are full time athletes for the Army team and, they were planted to participate across the Tinkhundla Centres” so that they could be recruited there.

“What is happening here is that, some of these people tingijimi vele letidlalela le-team yemasotja kodvwa atisiwo emasotja betsenjiswa kutsi “dlalela le-team yetfu sitakucasha. So kuyaye kube netikhala letibekwako tekufaka badlali bebhola, tingijimi tale-team yemasotja bese kuba ngemabutfo. So nakutsantfwa lesikhala salona losavele anaso kutsiwa “hamba uyogijima eNkhundleni sitakutsatsa khona, bayati kutsi vele lona yingijimi yetfu utabashiya. Nasebangenile lababo through the Tinkhundla Centres, kubese kuvuleka letikhala-ke tekudizisa tibe tinyenti ngoba vele letikhala talabadlali betivele tibekiwe ngalokutsi bona kulukhuni kubadizisa ngoba badlalela le-team sekumele bagijime leNkhundleni kutsatfwe letikhala temaSwati lamanye bese letabo, sekudiziswa labanye bafakwe,” said the source.