Africa-Press – Eswatini. Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Thuli Dladla visited four constituencies in the Hhohho region to meet the elderly who do not have proper housing structures.
She saw the plight of vulnerable elderly under Ndzingeni, Timphisini, Ntfonjeni and Mayiwane constituencies, in her effort to assess their living conditions.
The Members of Parliament (MPs) from these constituencies were instrumental in informing the DPM about the plight of these elderly people.
The first inkhundla to be visited was Ndzingeni, where she met two elderly persons who did not have proper houses.
During her visit, Dladla interacted with the elderly, who narrated the hardships they endure daily caused by lack of proper houses and food.
After assessing all sites, the DPM promised to construct new houses for them to avoid casualties that might occur in case the current structures collapse with the elderly inside.
Dladla also pleaded to all Emaswati to take care of their parents. All four visited families received food parcels comprising of rice, vegetable oil and beans.
“During the Sibaya dialogue, His Majesty King Mswati III commissioned us to go out and work with communities to try and curb the widespread outcry of poverty in many communities,” the DPM said.
Under Ndzingeni Inkhundla, Siphiwe Mavuso aged 66 said she didn’t know that she was living with a snake until her dilapidated stick and mud one-room structure collapsed.
She narrated how when removing her items, a dangerous snake was discovered and luckily she was not harmed. Mavuso said her husband died in 2005.
Ndzingeni MP Gcina Magagula together with his inkhundla team identified Mavuso. Last year her house collapsed after a heavy storm and since then she has been living in a tent provided by the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA).
The DPM promised that a one-room house and a toilet would be constructed for her. She said a make-shift kitchen and water tank would also be provided.
In the same inkhundla, Moses Mncina aged 74 also met the DPM. Mncina is also living in a dilapidated structure and only survives through the elderly grant with no other source of income.
“As you can see this stick and mud house is also in a bad state, when it rains everything inside becomes wet. Please assist me Make DPM,” he said.
In response, the DPM promised him a proper house as well. Meanwhile, under Timphisini Inkhundla the DPM appreciated the neighbours who usually share their food with an elder Tryphina Motsa.
Timphisini MP Thulani Nsingwane expressed great appreciation to Dladla for speedily attending to the issue. The DPM also promised her that she will get a new house, a toilet and a water tank. Motsa aged 81 is an elderly person who is living in a terrible condition, her stick and mud house is old and her neighbours usually share their food with her.
She lives alone in her dilapidated structure and said she was used to her situation of being alone. Motsa was very excited to receive visitors and was more ecstatic when told that she will be having a new house soon by the DPM.
Sisana Hlatjwako aged 63 from Ntfonjeni Inkhundla said she was a widow, a mother of 11 and two of her children passed on.
Hlatjwako said none of her children are in gainful employment and none finished school. She said they survived through piece jobs within the neighbourhood to buy food, which is never enough for all family members.
As a result of this condition, Hlatjwako cannot afford to build a new house. She is living in a house constructed with old corrugated sheets and is leaking.
She said her greatest wish of owning a house will come to pass as Dladla promised her one and a water tank.
The DPM was joined by Ntfonjeni MP Raymond Dlamini together with MPs Gcina Magagula and Thulani Nsingwane. The DPM further donated rice, beans and vegetable oil for this family.
“I still don’t believe that this beautiful house is mine. Even when my days come to an end, I will have a proper send-off,” 80-year-old Norah Ndzelaphi Malaza from Mayiwane Inkhundla said.
She was showing the DPM her almost complete two-roomed house.
Malaza was identified to benefit from this exercise by Mayiwane Member of Parliament Sicelo Dlamini and notified the DPM, who acted quickly and construction started. She said after living in her old house for so long, she had accepted that one day it will collapse on her.
She said she still doesn’t believe that very soon she will be sleeping in a decent house, have a new toilet and own a water tank. Malaza also received rice, beans and vegetable oil from the DPM, who further promised to bring curtains for the house.
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