By Phiwa Sikhondze
In a moment of sheer joy and disbelief, Olivert Bongi Mukabeta, a Fire Officer at the King Mswati III International Airport, emerged as the lucky winner of the much-anticipated Eswatini International Trade Fair (EITF) 2024 ‘Win-a-Car’ competition.
The 39-year-old from Mbikwakhe is now the proud owner of a brand-new Toyota Starlet Cross, valued at over E320,000, courtesy of WesBank and the Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority (EIPA).
Mukabeta’s win was announced by Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini during the EITF 2024 closing ceremony, held at the Mavuso Trade and Exhibition Centre. The visibly thrilled Mukabeta was handed the keys to the sleek new vehicle by the Prime Minister.
Expressing his excitement, Mukabeta said, “I’m extremely happy. I couldn’t believe it when I received the phone call. I wasn’t expecting this at all.” Mukabeta, who balances his duties as a fire officer at the airport with running a small nursery business, is confident that this new car will significantly ease his workload.
“This car will help me manage my daily commute to work and make it easier to run my nursery business,” he added.
During his address, Prime Minister Dlamini thanked the sponsors and partners who made the 2024 EITF a resounding success.
“We would like to specifically thank FNB and WesBank for their over E500,000 worth of sponsorship, which includes the Win-a-Car competition where a lucky visitor will be walking away with a Toyota Starlet Cross worth over E320,000. Congratulations to our winner,” the Prime Minister remarked.
He also extended appreciation to FNB for sponsoring the FNB Business Chamber, which hosted over 10 seminars on various topics that provided invaluable insights for the business community.
Thandeka Dlamini, the Executive Head of Credit at FNB Eswatini, representing the CEO, praised the collaboration between FNB and EIPA, noting WesBank’s role in making the competition a reality.
“At FNB Eswatini, we are honored to have partnered with EIPA to bring such an exciting and impactful initiative to life. We believe in driving growth not only through financial services but by investing in our communities. This car is more than just a prize—it’s a tool for empowerment, and we are proud to be part of initiatives that positively transform the lives of emaSwati,” she said.
The car giveaway was one of the highlights of the EITF 2024 closing ceremony, which also recognized various organizations for their outstanding contributions.