Africa-Press – Eswatini. Nkhomiyahlaba Member of Parliament Mduduzi Dlamini has welcomed government’s intervention in constructing a much-needed footbridge in the area but has issued a strong appeal for urgent assistance to rehabilitate the constituency’s deteriorating road network.
Dlamini was speaking during the launch of a E1.4 million footbridge connecting the Vusweni and Nsingweni Chiefdoms under the Nkhomiyahlaba Constituency. The project is being implemented through Microprojects under the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development, with support from Engineers in Action, a United States of America-based non-governmental organisation.
While expressing appreciation for the footbridge, the MP said the poor state of the road network remained a major obstacle to daily life in the constituency, particularly during the rainy season.
“Inasmuch as we seriously appreciate the construction of this much-needed footbridge, it goes without saying that we urgently need government assistance to fix this inaccessible road,” Dlamini said. “During rainy days, all planned community activities come to a complete standstill because the road becomes impassable.”
He told government representatives from the Microprojects unit that heavy rains often paralyse the community, affecting even essential and sensitive activities.
“When there is heavy rainfall, even burial proceedings are forced to stop because vehicles cannot access the area. This is how serious the situation is,” he said.
The legislator further highlighted the impact on education, noting that schoolchildren are among the most affected.
“After heavy rains, pupils are compelled to stay at home because it becomes impossible for them to travel to school. This is a catastrophic situation that affects the future of our children, and we are appealing to government to intervene urgently,” Dlamini said.
Despite the challenges, the MP acknowledged that the footbridge project was timely and would significantly improve safety and mobility for residents who previously risked their lives crossing the river, especially during floods.
“The footbridge comes at a time when the community is in desperate need of such development. It will save lives and restore dignity to our people,” he said.
The Microprojects Programme, under the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development, is responsible for implementing community-driven infrastructure initiatives across the country. These include projects funded through the Rural Development Fund (RDF), school reconstruction programmes, and rural infrastructure such as footbridges and water systems.
The programme focuses on improving access to essential services and stimulating local economic growth. Its scope includes the construction of Royal Chiefdom community halls, rehabilitation of storm-damaged schools, installation of suspension footbridges, and upgrading of rural roads.
Microprojects is funded by the Government of Eswatini through mechanisms such as the Community Development Special Fund (CDSF) and the RDF. Projects are implemented using local contractors registered with the Construction Industry Council (CIC), ensuring both compliance and local economic participation.
The programme also undertakes open national tendering processes, with procurement notices published through the Eswatini Public Procurement Regulatory Agency (ESPPRA).
Through its interventions, Microprojects continues to play a critical role in delivering, managing and sustaining small-scale but high-impact development projects across constituencies, particularly in underserved rural communities.
