BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – An amount of E200 million will be needed for the next five years in order for the country’s roads to be maintained.
This was said by Minister of Public Works and Transport Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe on March 17, 2025 when he appeared before senators who are members of the Works Ministry’s portfolio committee. The aim was for the senators to debate the 2024/25 performance debate of the Works Ministry.
Ndwandwe made this assertion when he was giving his preamble, just before the debate from the senators began. The debate was chaired by Senator Chief Ngome Ndlangamandla. The minister also told senators that the MR1 (Motshane-Matsamo Road) needed a complete refurbishment and everyone could see that.
He said according to civil engineers at the Ministry, the road had existed past its life span, hence the refurbishment was needed. Ndwandwe said the potholes were being fixed by the Ministry, but that was only a short-term solution because people needed to use the road when travelling, but the truth of the matter was that the road needed to be refurbished.
Senator Linda Nxumalo had raised concerns about the road, stating that the potholes that were found on the road could cause accidents. Nxumalo said the problem was that the road was too narrow and it could cause a head-on collision on cars, whose drivers would try to avoid the potholes.
As of January 2025, a total of E188,980,539 has been spent on various road projects.
Budget Allocation and Expenditure
– Total Budget for 2024/25: E236,642,641
– Expenditure as of January 2025: E188,980,539
– Projected Expenditure by End of Financial Year: E228,225,252
The over expenditure on rentals is attributed to the outsourcing of Plant Hire Services, addressing the need for upgrading outdated equipment.
