Africa-Press – Eswatini. A major water infrastructure project designed to secure water supply for Mbabane and the Ezulwini Corridor remains incomplete despite E78 million having already been allocated by Government, with officials now estimating that a total of E124.5 million will be required to bring the project to completion.
The Luphohlo-Mbabane Water Supply Project, first conceived during the severe drought conditions that gripped the country in 2016, was intended to strengthen water security for thousands of residents and businesses by developing alternative water sources for the capital city and surrounding areas.
However, nearly a decade later, the project remains unfinished, raising concerns about delays, escalating costs and the future of one of the country’s most important water security initiatives.
Officials from the Eswatini Water Services Corporation (EWSC) told Public Accounts Committee that the project has reached approximately 75 percent completion and that about E76 million of the original funding has already been utilised. Only E1.6 million remains from the initial grant allocation.
EWSC Director of Technical Services Bongani Mdluli explained that the project was launched in response to recurring droughts and growing demand for water in urban areas.
“The project has now reached approximately 75 per cent completion. To date, about E76 million has been utilised, leaving a balance of E1.6 million. To complete the project, a total of E124.5 million is required,” he said.
The development means that an additional E46.5 million will still be needed before the project can be fully operational.
Mdluli stressed that completing the project has become even more urgent as weather forecasts point to possible drought conditions in the near future.
“With predictions of drought conditions this year, this project remains extremely important for water security in Mbabane and surrounding areas,” he said.
The project’s progress came under scrutiny after the Auditor General reported challenges in tracing how portions of the original E78 million allocation were applied to the project. Auditors noted that while EWSC had reported expenditure on the project, documentation provided did not always clearly demonstrate a direct link between some expenditure items and the Luphohlo-Mbabane Water Supply Project.
Despite these concerns, officials emphasised that substantial work has already been completed on the ground, including the construction of key infrastructure such as pump housing facilities and other components necessary to deliver water to consumers once the project is finalised.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy acknowledged the funding challenges facing the project and confirmed that discussions have been held regarding possible options for securing the additional resources needed to complete the work.
For many residents and businesses in Mbabane and the Ezulwini Corridor, the project’s completion could prove transformative. Water demand in the country’s urban centres continues to grow, while recurring droughts place increasing pressure on existing supply systems. Experts have long argued that investment in alternative water sources is critical to ensuring long-term water security and supporting economic development.
As Government and EWSC work to secure the outstanding funding, attention will now be focused on accelerating construction and ensuring that the Luphohlo-Mbabane Water Supply Project finally delivers on its promise of providing a more reliable and resilient water supply for the nation’s economic hub.
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