MTN Eswatini has committed E350,000 to the 11th edition of the MTN Khemani Road Classic bicycle race, bringing the company’s total sponsorship of the event since 2013 to E3.5 million.
The announcement was made by MTN Eswatini Chief Executive Officer, Wandile Mtshali, during a sponsorship unveiling ceremony held at the MTN Eswatini Clubhouse on Wednesday evening.
The MTN Khemani Road Classic, organised by the MTN Khemani Cycling Club, is one of Eswatini’s premier cycling events, blending elite competition with mass-participation races. Beyond its sporting value, the race is a community-driven initiative, with all proceeds channeled into local development projects. Past beneficiaries include Mankayane care points and Mankayane Hospital.
Making his remarks before announcing the sponsorship, Mtshali stressed that MTN’s involvement extends beyond sponsorship.
“As MTN, we firmly believe in making a sustainable, positive impact in the communities we are privileged to serve,” he said.
“This initiative is close to our hearts because it promotes health and supports sport. Cycling is one of the few sports that is widely accessible, and uplifting the community in a positive way benefits everyone — not just MTN Eswatini but the Kingdom at large.”
Following his remarks, organisers also unveiled a new event logo, proudly displaying the number 11 in celebration of the race’s milestone edition.
Accepting the sponsorship cheque, the Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs, Bongani Nzima, commended MTN’s consistent backing of the event and highlighted its social impact on Mankayane.
“I remember that in 2024 a participant informed me that the only meal they had that day was the meal provided at the start of the race,” he recalled. “That proves this race is more than a sporting event; it is a social initiative that uplifts communities in more ways than one.”
Nzima further applauded MTN and called on other companies to emulate its example, noting that he and fellow parliamentarians plan to participate in this year’s ride.
Also addressing the ceremony, the Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Appolo Maphalala, raised concerns about the lack of dedicated cycling lanes in Eswatini, warning that the absence of such infrastructure continues to expose cyclists to unnecessary risks. He urged government action to improve road safety, citing a past fatal accident involving one of the race teams’ riders.
Adding to the evening’s momentum, Municipal Council of Mbabane CEO, Gciniwe Fakudze, who served as master of ceremonies, confirmed her participation in the race. She also revealed that representatives of the Mankayane Town Board are renewing their call for the town to be upgraded to city council status, which they believe would spur further development in the area.
The MTN Khemani Road Classic is set to take place on Saturday, 27 September 2025. The race traditionally features multiple distance categories, including long routes of up to 120 km for elite competitors, while also offering amateur cyclists the rare opportunity to ride alongside professionals from across Eswatini and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
Further details about this year’s event will be shared on MTN Eswatini’s social media platforms.