LUDZIDZINI – His Majesty King Mswati III has commended University of Eswatini (UNESWA) student Vuyelwa Karabo Simelane for raising the country’s flag high after emerging as the overall winner of the 2026 SADC Tertiary Institution Essay Competition.
The King said Simelane’s achievement stood out during the official opening ceremony of the 46th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government in Durban, South Africa, where he witnessed her emerge victorious over other contestants from across the region.
According to His Majesty, the achievement brought pride to Eswatini at a time when the country had gone for some time without seeing a Liswati receive such recognition on the SADC stage.
The King said Simelane represented Eswatini exceptionally well, particularly as the country was also assuming a prominent role in the SADC Organ Troika. He said Eswatini became the centre of attention at the regional gathering, with the country taking over the Troika chairmanship while Simelane was being recognised as a winner.
His Majesty said he greatly appreciated the young scholar’s achievement and the manner in which she put Eswatini in the spotlight.
Simelane, a final-year Bachelor of Science student majoring in Biology and Chemistry, won the top prize of US$2 000 for her essay titled “From SADCC to SADC: Continuities, Changes and Policy Lessons.” The competition was established to encourage tertiary students to research and contribute to regional cooperation and integration.
The King also thanked Simelane’s parents for encouraging and supporting her, particularly her father, Eswatini Observer photojournalist Lucky “Maphepheni” Simelane, whom His Majesty said must have played an important role in supporting his daughter’s success.
Simelane’s victory marked her second major international essay competition triumph, following her 2025 win in the ARSO Continental Essay Competition.
