Africa-Press – Eswatini. Government, through the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, has conducted a site inspection in preparation for the construction of the Siphofaneni–Siphambanweni road.
The inspection, held on Friday, included prospective contractors who were taken on a guided tour of the planned route, covering both the Siphofaneni–Sithobela–Maloma–Nsoko (MR14) and Maloma–Siphambanweni (MR21) roads. This extensive 105.9-kilometre road is a major component of the Eswatini Road Infrastructure Improvement Programme Phase I (ERIIP Phase I), which aims to enhance regional connectivity and improve mobility in both urban and rural areas.
The road is expected to be upgraded to paved standard, which will drastically reduce travel times and facilitate smoother transportation across the Lubombo and Shiselweni regions. During the site visit, constructors stopped at key strategic points to assess the terrain and understand the scale and importance of the infrastructure improvements planned.
The construction phase of the project is anticipated to take approximately 36 months to complete.
The project follows the recent passage of the African Development Bank (Eswatini Road Infrastructure Improvement Programme Phase I) Loan Bill, 2025, which was approved by Members of Parliament on 27 May 2025. The Loan Bill authorises the Minister of Finance, Neal Rijkenberg, to secure funding of US$140.6 million (approximately E2.5 billion) from the African Development Bank to finance the first phase of the road infrastructure programme.
This massive road project is expected to significantly benefit at least five constituencies, namely Siphofaneni, Sithobela, Ngudzeni, Sigwe, Lubulini, and Matsanjeni South, through which the new road will pass. Improved transport networks are anticipated to stimulate local economies, provide better access to markets and services, and improve overall quality of life for residents in these regions.
The Siphofaneni–Siphambanweni road is viewed as a vital link for domestic and regional trade, and its completion is expected to play a key role in supporting Eswatini’s broader development goals.
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