The Challenge
The 31st of July and the 1st day of August 2018 celebrated 3 of the project’s most improved Farmer Companies (FC’s) from Mahlabaneni under the Ngcamphalala Chiefdom. The FC’s names are Sivene; Ntokozweni and Magatja. They form a combined total of 450 shareholders who represent the entire Mahlabaneni section of the Ngcamphalala Chiefdom. These FC’s were facing numerous challenges of in-fighting; land disputes; inactiveness and general lack of interest in the project. Through on-going trainings by the PIDU and continuous motivation from their Traditional Authorities (TA’s); they have turned that around to be more organized to the extent of reserving names for company registration and start looking into collectively generating income as law-abiding and professional FC’s.
The Theme The LUSIP 2 Ext. Project thought to show recognition for their efforts by hosting a team-building event at the Mayaluka Stadium in Big-Bend. A group of close to 300 shareholders from the 3 different FC’s attended this merriment event. The point to this occasion was to strengthen the budding cohesion they now seem to be showing and further provide assurance from the office for back-up in their future endeavors. The theme of the event was thus capped “Go fast alone or Go far together”. This simply correlates to say in-spite of the challenges the FC’s have faced as a group they can still go even further if they continue sticking together.
Activities Team-building games such as tug-of-war; landmines; athletics; soccer and netball to mention a few, were enjoyed by participants and were a marvel to watch as well. The FC’s also displayed their appreciation for being recognized for their hard work through Swazi dances like kutsamba and ummiso. Perhaps the key (and apparently most exciting) of these games was Landmines where participants had to walk blindfolded in a pool of scattered objects and be guided by their team members to get across without stepping on any of the objects. Primary among the lessons in this particular activity was that all team members will occasionally need each other for guidance and none can actually do it alone.
Refreshments Food was the order of the day and the community went all-out to make this aspect brighten the event as the best ever event held by LUSIP 2. Contributions amounting to over E 6 000 were a humbling gesture from the community especially if one takes into account their current state of economic affairs. The commitment shown by the Mahlabaneni TA in coordinating particularly this aspect was nothing short of remarkable. Their participation and ownership of this event proved that it is rightfully accorded. From organizing the buying of food; cooking and going further to ensure that not one is left behind, the Mahlabaneni CDC’s efforts cannot go unappreciated. The staff of SWADE also excelled in complementing such efforts by managing the long queues and assisting in equal distribution of food.
Rewards Out of the 3 competent FC’s, the Sivene FC scooped the award for the most improved company with a swarming increase of 65% from 32% of constant participation in company trainings and growth. This was respectively followed by Ntokozweni and Magatja. Prizes and trophies were given to varying winners in athletics, dance, netball and landmine games.
Showing appreciation for the success of the event, Indvuna of Ngcamphalala, Babe Zephaniah Dlamini was quoted as saying “siyakukhutsata kutikhandla kwenu sive saMshikashika, chubekani ngalolunyawo nati kutsi indlunkhulu yenu itimisele kunibambisa kuko konkhe lokuphatselene nalomusebentu welulimo lwa SWADE…”. This is loosely translated as saying “we appreciate your efforts people of Mshikashika and encourage you to continue with the confidence of knowing that your Traditional Structures will support you in any matters regarding the work that SWADE has brought….”
Why we do this SWADE is about commercializing agriculture for the socio-economic growth of rural communities of the Kingdom of Eswatini. Through the LUSIP 2 project, the organization achieves this by instituting Farmer Companies who not only gain profits through their agri-business ventures but also assist in developing their surrounding communities. Before all this happens though, there is a strong need to strengthen working relations from amongst the FC’s so as to maximize both their gain and that of their communities. Over the years the organization has observed the need for such events to strengthen FC relations; minimize conflicts and smoothen the project’s progress. For the previous year 2017, the exercise focused on the 3 FC’s of the Matsenjwa Chiefdom which had already registered as Farmer Companies and were thus ready to start working together. This event helped them in harmoniously deciding on what crops to grow and what startup businesses to venture into whilst awaiting the completion of the canal construction. This year the LUSIP 2 project is looking forward to bigger and better results through this event which maintain its theme that “we can either go FAST alone or go FAR together”.
