BY THEMBA ZWANE
MHLUME – Members of the Fourth Estate had the privilege to be informed of Royal Eswatini Sugar Corporation (ResCorp)’s new sugarcane development initiative worth E140 million and creation of about 400 jobs for local people at Mhlume.
This was on 6 March 2026 at Mhlume where editors and reporters had a chance to tour ResCorp facilities.
At one of the sites toured, editors and reporters had been informed that at least 400 people will get job opportunities after ResCorp discovered a new land on which they will undertake operations. The land to be cleared will see locals benefit as they will collect firewood. Members of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) will also be allowed to collect firewood. Endangered species will be relocated. these include endangered animals and plants.
Meanwhile, editors and reporters were informed that Rescorp spent E140 million on a new sugarcane plantation development project of about 14000hectares. This is a new development. E75 million was spent on the irrigation systems alone.
The members of the Fourth Estate included Eswatini’s esteemed editors, Bheki Makhubu from the Nation Magazine, Thobeka Manyathela from Times of Eswatini, Mbongeni Mbingo from Eswatini Observer, Lwazi Dlamini from the Rubicon Group of Newspapers and Mbongeni Ndlela from Eswatini Positive News among other senior journalists.
Ahead of the tour, ResCorp Managing Director (MD) Nick Jackson had the opportunity to meet all the country’s media houses representatives. Jackson took the opportunity to inform the members of the Fourth Estate about the history of the sugar-belt company.
His presentation included the date in which the company was formed, 1977. The MD further explained ResCorp operations which include electricity generation and their Corporate Social Responsibility programmes. On the latter, the MD lamented the extinction of a football club the company 100 per cent ran among other things.
Editors and reporters were transported on ResCorp buses and had the opportunity to explore sites of the Corporation. There were also questions and answers sessions along the tour where site managers would clarity issues of interest to the media.
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