BY PHUMELELE GAMEDZE (INTERN)
MAHLANGATSHA – Four vulnerable families from Ntontozi, Lobamba Lomdzala and Mahlangatsha are entering a new chapter of comfort, safety and dignity after officially receiving newly built houses handed over by Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla.
The house handover programme, which also included the distribution of food parcels, brought renewed hope to beneficiaries who had endured years of hardship in inadequate living conditions.
The journey began at Ncabaneni in Ntontozi, where 45 year old Zizwe Nhlabatsi received a one room house after his previous dwelling collapsed. Nhlabatsi was in Malkerns collecting empty cans for his small business when the structure gave way.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Nhlabatsi expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for restoring his dignity and providing him with a safe place to call home.
“I no longer feel marginalized in my community,” he said.
At Eluyengweni in Lobamba Lomdzala, 71 year old Gogo Lonene Divah Khumalo was presented with a two roomed house, ending years of suffering caused by harsh weather conditions.
For years, Khumalo struggled through rainy seasons in a dilapidated structure, often covering herself with plastic sheeting while her belongings became soaked by rainwater. Her new home was made possible through financial support from PMI Switzerland.
In another emotional moment at Nsangwini under Mahlangatsha Inkhundla, two elderly women received newly completed houses funded by the Republic of China (Taiwan).
Among them was 63 year old widow Gogo Mariah Khalani Nhlabatsi, who had been living in a one-room hut with 11 grandchildren while relying solely on the monthly Elderly Grant. Overcome with emotion, she shed tears of joy upon receiving the keys to her new two roomed house.
The second beneficiary, Gogo Josephinah Shabangu, also celebrated a major milestone after the government, through the National Disaster Risk Management Authority (NDRMA), completed a house that had initially been left unfinished due to financial challenges faced by her daughter.
Addressing community members during the handovers, Deputy Prime Minister Dladla commended neighbours who continue to support and care for vulnerable members of society. She also thanked Tinkhundla councils and members of the media for helping identify and report cases requiring urgent intervention.
The Deputy Prime Minister further applauded communities for embracing and including persons with disabilities in local activities. She reminded the nation about the ongoing Trolley Dash Competition for persons with disabilities and encouraged businesses to create employment opportunities for people living with disabilities.
Dladla said the newly constructed houses would ensure that the beneficiaries and their families live in comfort and safety, particularly during the cold winter season.
The successful handovers underscore the government’s continued commitment to improving the welfare of vulnerable citizens through strategic partnerships with development partners, community structures and international donors.
For the four families, the new houses represent more than just shelter they symbolize hope, dignity, security and a brighter future.
#HousingForHope #DPMCares #BuildingDignity #EswatiniPositiveNews
