THEMBELISHA Preparatory School pupil Setsabile Zungu has been named the national winner of the 2026 International Letter Writing Competition for Young People, earning the honour of representing the country at the international stage.
Zungu was announced the winner of the competition during the prize giving ceremony held at Happy Valley Hotel on Wednesday where pupils from across the country were recognised for their outstanding letters.
The competition, organised under the theme; ‘Write a letter to a friend about why human connection matters in a digital world,’ attracted 1 183 entries from pupils across the country. This year, all letters were written in Siswati, celebrating the country’s language and culture.
Mhlume High School pupil Lethokuhle Gwebu won in the high schools category and Amanhle Mngati from Ngomane High School came second place while St Theresa’s High School’s Tilokotfo Matsenjwa occupied third place. In the primary school category, Lobamba National Primary School, Ezulwini Community Primary School, and Ekwetsembeni Special School emerged as the winners.
All first-place winners received laptops, generously sponsored by ESCCOM. Second-place winners were awarded tablets, courtesy of UNICEF, while third-place winners received mobile phones also sponsored by ESCCOM. The winning schools were presented with office printers. In addition, all winners received medals sponsored by World Vision, reading books from Macmillan, hampers from Lactalis, promotional merchandise from Premier Bakeries, World Vision, EPTC and KFC meal vouchers.
Representing Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla, Senior Children Coordination Officer Sibongile Dlamini praised the pupils for using their voices to discuss an important issue affecting young people today.
Dladla said the competition came at the end of Eswatini’s Children’s Month, which was celebrated under the theme, “Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Every Child.” She said the work of protecting and supporting children would continue beyond June. “The work does not end on June 30. Those engagements will translate into action because our children deserve nothing less than our sustained commitment,” she said.
The DPM also highlighted the launch of the Eswatini National Children’s Consultative Forum, made up of 15 pupils from all four regions of the country, saying the forum shows that children’s opinions are important in national discussions. She also praised the decision to have all entries written in vernacular. “By writing in Siswati, our children showed that our language has beauty, depth and the power to express great ideas. I am immensely proud of that,” she said.
Announcing the winner, Dladla congratulated Setsabile and said her letter would now represent the country at the Universal Postal Union international competition.
