BY PHESHEYA IAN KUNENE
EZULWINI – If building bridges is both an art and a science, then Engineers in Action (EIA) has become a master of both, and the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development isn’t holding back on the praise.
Acting Minister Mabulala Maseko described EIA’s efforts as a textbook example of community-driven development done right. Speaking at Thursday’s welcome ceremony held at Sharma House, the Minister described the work as “impact you can touch, walk on, and drink.”
“Since their first bridge in Maphalaleni in 2017, not a single structure has needed repairs,” he said. “Even the floods couldn’t bring them down.”
Maseko highlighted the student engineers’ sacrifices, noting that they fundraise from their own pockets to travel to Eswatini, live with rural communities, and help build infrastructure that changes lives.
He described EIA as a US-based non-profit organisation whose goal is to bring socio-economic upliftment to developing countries through technical expertise, bridge construction, and clean water access.
“This is more than just volunteering. This is service with heart, and Eswatini is grateful,” he said.
Over 80 student engineers and mentors from 12 universities including Penn State, Duke, Cornell, McGill and UCL were introduced during the event. They are currently stationed in five communities to build footbridges and implement school-based clean water projects.
“The students literally live with communities, share resources, and work shoulder-to-shoulder with locals,” the Minister said. “That’s impact.”
The Ministry’s Lutsango unit added a cultural flavour with a spirited song and dance performance, and the EIA students returned the favour with a lively cultural dance of their own – earning cheers and camera flashes from every corner of the packed venue.
Maseko closed by reaffirming government’s commitment to ensuring rural development is inclusive and sustainable, thanking every hand that has shaped the partnership into what it is today.
