Africa-Press – Eswatini. Government is moving to reassure the public that plans are in place to fix the country’s crumbling road networks as soon as the weather breaks.
The downpours, which started just before the Christmas holidays, have left many roads saturated and dangerous, particularly in rural areas where gravel paths and small crossings have been hit the hardest.
Despite these challenges, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport has confirmed that a coordinated recovery plan is ready to be fully activated the moment conditions improve.
Prioritizing Safety Over Speed Principal Secretary Thulani Mkhaliphi stated that while the damage is frustrating, government’s main goal is keeping people alive during this period of extreme weather. He urged drivers to be extra careful, especially around saturated or submerged roads.
The Ministry acknowledged the visible toll the rain has taken, noting that major routes are now riddled with potholes and some rural communities have been cut off because low-level bridges were washed away or flooded.
The Plan for Recovery While it is currently too muddy to safely use heavy construction equipment, a full-scale repair plan is ready to launch the moment the ground dries out.
The government’s immediate priorities include:
Restoring access: Rebuilding washed-away crossings to reconnect isolated communities.
Road repairs: Fixing critical sections and filling potholes on major routes.
Safety clearing: Removing debris and cutting back overgrown vegetation to help drivers see more clearly.
A Call for Continued Cooperation Officials thanked the public for their resilience and for looking out for one another during the storms. By reporting road hazards and refusing to cross flooded bridges, citizens are helping prevent avoidable accidents.
“This period has tested our infrastructure, but it has also demonstrated our capacity to respond, adapt, and work together,” Mkhaliphi said.
The Ministry will continue to monitor the weather and provide updates as repairs begin.
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