Africa-Press – Eswatini. Members of Parliament (MPs) have passed a Loan Bill of E2.5 billion to construct road from Siphofaneni in the Lubombo Region to Siphambanweni in the Shiselweni Region.
The African Development Bank (Eswatini Road Infrastructure Improvement Programme Phase I) Loan Bill, 2025 was passed on May 27, 2025 in the House of Assembly. The Loan Bill authorises Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg to secure funding of an amount not exceeding US$140.6 million (about E2.5 billion) from the African Development Bank.
This money would implement the Phase I of the Road Infrastructure Improvement Programme, which entails the tarring of the Siphofaneni-Siphambanweni road, which is about 105 kilometres. This road infrastructure is set to benefit over five constituencies, where the road is said to be passing. Constituencies such as Siphofaneni, Sithobela, Ngudzeni, Sigwe, and Matsanjeni South are said to be affected by this project.
The MPs expressed happiness on this project, stating that this was one of the projects they wanted Eswatini Government to implement. Ngudzeni MP Charles Ndlovu stated that this is one of the projects that motivated them to become MPs. That was the reason why they were going to support it as legislators. He stated that regions such as Lubombo and Shiselweni were usually left behind in terms of development.
He expressed hope that this project would stimulate economic activity and create jobs for the people of these two regions. Ndlovu said he would expect factory shells to be opened in the affected constituencies, as a result.
Sithobela MP Mancoba Sihlongonyane said such projects made even a five-year-old child to see that indeed, Govenrment was serious about the development of this country. He mentioned that this project was not just about one area, but about two regions and six constituencies were affected by the project.
Sigwe MP David ‘Cruiser’ Ngcamphalala expressed happiness and expected that the project would bring employment to many people, especially the youth of Sigwe, where one would find that about 300 of them from one chiefdom were unemployed.
Siphofaneni MP Nomalungelo Simelane expressed joy on this project, stating that her constituency was also affected by this project, as it was going to benefit. Simelane said this project would give people from her area an opportunity to get jobs. She also mentioned that previous representatives from Siphofaneni, such as former MP Gundwane Gamedze and Mduduzi Simelane were supporters of this project.
Matsanjeni South MP Sabelo Ndlangamandla also expressed gratitude to Government for tabling this Loan Bill before the House, as it would enable Emaswati to generate income.
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