BY TANDZILE DLAMINI
MOTSHANE — Driven by His Majesty King Mswati III’s compassionate directive, the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office (DPMO) and the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) on 5 December 2025, fulfilled a vital mandate by handing over newly constructed homes and educational facilities in Eswatini.
These crucial structures provide immediate, tangible relief, restoring dignity, safety, and hope to vulnerable families and children whose lives were devastated by last year’s hailstorms and floods.
Speaking with deep conviction during the handovers, Deputy Prime Minister Dladla powerfully reaffirmed the King’s unwavering message: the lives of the elderly and children must be protected at all costs.
“The King always says I do not want to hear reports that an old person was hurt when a house collapses, and he wants children to be well taken care of,” she conveyed, underscoring the deep personal concern His Majesty holds for his people.
These critical handovers are part of a nationwide response, stemming directly from grievances presented to His Majesty under the Nkwe tradition, a solemn promise to address the nation’s most pressing needs. In total, four permanent homes were officially turned over to families who had lost everything to the recent natural disasters.
The ceremony was marked by intensely personal moments of gratitude, illustrating the profound impact of the royal mandate on individual lives.
In the community of Ekupheleni, the Deputy Prime Minister officially opened a new two-roomed house complete with a bathroom for 47-year-old Thabile Dlamini. Thabile, who is blind and a mother of five, had been living in constant anxiety, struggling to pay rent after her home was destroyed.
“I was living in fear because I did not know where my children and I would go when I failed to pay rent,” Thabile shared, tears welling up. “Today I finally have a home, and my heart is at peace.”
Adding to the relief, the Ekupheleni chiefdom pledged to fence her homestead, providing the family with the opportunity to grow crops and achieve sustainable self-reliance.
In Nduma, 86-year-old Tryphina Dlamini, who is now wheelchair-bound, received the keys to her brand new two-roomed house with a bathroom. Her previous home was completely wiped out during the brutal October 2024 floods.
Bucopho Thulile Mazibuko confirmed the shocking extent of the loss: “The heavy floods last October caused major destruction, and Tryphina Dlamini’s house completely collapsed. We are grateful that no one was injured.” Gogo Tryphina’s restored home represents not just shelter, but a fundamental return to safety.
At Jubukweni, 59-year-old widow Phumelele Dlamini was filled with overwhelming emotion as she was handed the keys to her new two-bedroom house. After losing her home to hail damage, she had been forced to rely on the kindness of neighbors.
“It was painful not to have a home that belongs to me, but today I am filled with joy that I finally have a house,” she wept, her tears a powerful testament to the relief of having a secure roof over her head once more.
The King’s focus on children was evident at the Mpolonjeni Orphanage Care Centre, where two newly constructed classroom blocks were officially handed over. These classrooms are specifically designed for children living with disabilities, allowing them to resume learning in a safe, secure environment. The previous classrooms had been obliterated by hail, tragically forcing the centre to close its doors.
Bucopho Sabelo Hadebe of the Mpolonjeni chiefdom expressed profound relief: “We are grateful that our children can now return to a safe place to learn.”
In a forward-looking promise, the Deputy Prime Minister also guaranteed fencing for the centre, enabling the children and caregivers to establish vegetable and crop production to ensure a sustainable source of nutritious meals.
All houses and facilities were expertly constructed through the diligent efforts of the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office and the NDMA. Furthermore, every beneficiary received essential food supplies for short-term relief.
These actions mark a truly compassionate and practical fulfilment of the Royal Command, ensuring that Eswatini’s most vulnerable citizens are not forgotten, but are instead lifted up, their dignity restored, and their future secured.
