By Sikhulile Dlamini
MBABANE – Microprojects, in collaboration with Engineers in Action (EIA), has successfully completed the fifth of their seven planned bridges for 2024, the Mankantimane Suspended Bridge.
This brings the total number of suspended footbridges built in the country to 26.
The official handover took place on Friday (August 16, 2024) at Sithobelweni Constituency in the Lubombo Region. The newly constructed bridge now links two chiefdoms which are Luhlanyeni and Phunga in the Lubombo region, benefitting over 3 000 residents from the connected communities.
EIA Programme Manager Anna Jovanovic expressed her gratitude to the team of students from international universities, Microprojects team and faculty advisors who assisted in the construction of the bridge.
The project was a joint effort involving civil engineering students from the University of South Indiana, Eastern Mennonite and the University of Iowa, who worked alongside faculty advisers contributed their expertise to construction efforts.
The Mankantimane Bridge is designed to endure the test of time, featuring high quality materials, including cables from the United States of America (USA) and clamps from South Africa, ensuring that the infrastructure remains sustainable for a period of over 50years.