BY SIBUSISEKILE NDLANGAMANDLA
MVEMBILI– Young people and community members have taken practical steps to restore the Mlumati River through indigenous tree planting, as concerns over sand mining and pollution continue to affect the river and its surrounding environment.
The activity formed part of the 2026 World Rivers Day commemoration held at Mvembili Community under the theme “Youth Restoring Rivers for a Sustainable Future.” Led by Eswatini Youth in Water, the programme brought together young people, community members, traditional leaders and water-sector stakeholders to turn river conservation awareness into practical action.
Indigenous trees were planted along the Mlumati Riverbank as part of efforts to restore the river environment and encourage communities to take greater responsibility for protecting local water resources.
The restoration activity comes against concerns raised by Mvembili Community Development Committee Vice Chairperson Phetsile Gama about environmental pressures facing the river, including sand mining along the riverbanks and pollution caused by waste entering the river. This highlight the importance of community participation in protecting the river, particularly as activities along riverbanks can affect the health and sustainability of water resources.
The World Rivers Day programme also created a platform for young people to participate directly in water resources management rather than being involved only through awareness discussions. Alongside tree planting, the programme included environmental awareness activities and the Rivers Day Tournament, featuring both ladies’ and men’s soccer.
Eswatini Youth in Water said the event was its second International Rivers Day commemoration in Eswatini, following the inaugural national event held at the Luntsantsama River in 2025. The organisation said the initiative is intended to demonstrate that, with support, young people can generate tangible impact at community, national and trans boundary levels.
The Joint River Basin Authorities Project Board supports Eswatini Youth in Water, with the initiative also involving partners including the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Incomati and Maputo Watercourse Commission and Komati Basin Water Authority.
The commemoration was also attended by a Dutch delegation visiting the Joint River Basin Authorities Project Board, giving the delegation an opportunity to observe how water governance and environmental responsibility are being translated into community-level action.
For the Mvembili community, the tree planting provided a direct contribution to riverbank restoration, while the awareness activities created space to discuss river health, water conservation, sanitation, climate resilience and water security.
This demonstrated that protecting rivers requires more than institutional plans. It also requires communities and young people to participate in practical activities that address environmental challenges and promote responsible management of water resources.
As the newly planted trees require continued care and protection, the Mvembili initiative also places responsibility on the community and young people to sustain the restoration work beyond World Rivers Day.
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(Courtesy Pic)
