BY TANDZILE DLAMINI
MBABANE – A total of 10 000 ventilated improved pit (VIP) toilets will be constructed across the Shiselweni Region to improve sanitation in rural and peri-urban households. The large-scale initiative is part of the WASH Shiselweni Region Initiative, a collaborative effort that seeks to increase access to safe sanitation and hygiene services in households located in Hosea, Shiselweni 1 and Zombodze Emuva Tinkhundla, as well as the informal settlements of Hlathikhulu and Nhlangano.
The project is financed by the World Bank and jointly implemented by the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, the Ministry of Tinkhundla Administration and Development and the Eswatini Water Services Corporation. Tarutium Global Consulting, an international consultancy firm, is responsible for monitoring no the construction of the sanitation facilities while also training communities on sustainable hygiene and sanitation practices. The Mangwaneni site, one of the areas under the same intervention, is already nearing completion.
The construction of these toilets comes as a much-needed solution for many residents who have lived for years without safe, reliable sanitation. In regions where people still rely on unsafe pit latrines or practice open defecation, the introduction of VIP toilets will reduce the risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid and diarrhoea. These diseases are often spread when faecal matter is washed into streams during the rainy season, contaminating water sources used for drinking, cooking and bathing.
Beyond protecting public health, access to VIP toilets is expected to have far-reaching benefits for community development. With improved health, families will be better able to engage in productive activities such as farming and small-scale gardening. In a region ranked lowest on Eswatini’s poverty index, this improvement in household productivity could help lift many out of poverty.
To complement the construction work, Tarutium Global Consulting will also conduct training sessions for community members, ensuring they are equipped with the knowledge and skills to maintain the facilities and adopt healthy hygiene habits. These include proper handwashing, latrine cleanliness and safe water use , essential practices to ensure long-term impact.
The WASH Shiselweni Region Initiative is a reminder that sanitation is not just a matter of infrastructure, but a foundation for health, dignity and economic empowerment. By investing in toilets, Eswatini is investing in its people. With fewer illnesses, better living conditions and increased productivity, the people of Shiselweni can look forward to a future of improved well-being and opportunity.
(Courtesy Pics)
