Africa-Press – Eswatini. When Mlamuli Dlamini built a double-storey house using sticks and mud, his creativity captured national attention.
The unusual structure, which stood tall despite being made from fragile materials, symbolised determination, resilience and a dream for a better life.
While the house showcased ingenuity, it also highlighted the urgent need for safe and dignified housing, a moment that inspired the Government of Eswatini to step in and transform his life.
For years, Mlamuli lived in the handmade structure that exposed him to harsh weather and daily risk. Though impressive in design,
the stick-and-mud house was unsafe and deteriorating. Today, that chapter has been replaced by a life-changing milestone after government constructed a modern double-storey house for him, the first of its kind under the country’s social housing support initiatives.
The new home, built through the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister led by Senator Thulisile Dladla, provides safety, comfort and renewed dignity.
The transformation has attracted admiration locally and internationally, with media houses praising the government’s compassionate and innovative
approach to improving citizens’ lives.
Mlamuli’s story is part of a broader national effort to uplift vulnerable citizens. Since 2023, government, through the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office, has constructed more than 80 houses for elderly and needy people across Eswatini. Each completed home represents restored dignity, stability and hope for families who once faced difficult living conditions. This growing programme continues to earn the country significant respect for prioritising social protection and human welfare.
His Majesty King Mswati III has consistently highlighted the importance of housing as a foundation for dignity and national development.
The King has emphasised that emaSwati deserve safe and secure homes as part of the country’s commitment to inclusive growth and improved living standards.
Mlamuli’s new home reflects this vision being turned into reality.
Government officials have described the project as part of a wider mission to ensure no citizen is left behind in Eswatini’s development journey.
The initiative demonstrates how collaboration and compassionate leadership can create meaningful change in communities.
For Mlamuli, the new house is more than a building, it is a symbol of hope fulfilled. His journey from a handmade stick-and-mud structure to a modern double-storey home stands as a powerful reminder of what is possible when a nation invests in its people.
