BY PHUMELELE GAMEDZE
HOSEA – For Gogo Emma Sikhosana, receiving the keys to a new home meant something far greater than simply moving into a new building. It meant finally having a safe roof over her head after enduring the painful reality of sleeping outside.
“I was sleeping outside,” she said, reflecting on the difficult conditions she had lived through before her new home was built.
Sikhosana was among four families in the Shiselweni Region whose lives have taken a hopeful turn after receiving newly constructed houses handed over by Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla.
The handovers, supported by different development partners, brought emotional scenes of gratitude, song and celebration as families who had endured challenging living conditions stepped into homes offering greater safety, dignity and stability.
At Maseyisini, 46-year-old Ncamsile Zwane, a mother of 11, received a house constructed with support from Philip Morris International (PMI).
For Zwane, who has a large family depending on her, the new home marked the beginning of a different chapter.
Overwhelmed with gratitude, she thanked His Majesty King Mswati III and praised God for what she described as a blessing. Her happiness spilled into song as she celebrated a home that promises improved living conditions for her family.
Maseyisini Member of Parliament Nokuthula Dlamini also expressed appreciation to Their Majesties and the Deputy Prime Minister, while reflecting on the difficult circumstances Zwane had experienced before receiving assistance.
The Deputy Prime Minister, meanwhile, recognised members of the community who had supported Zwane during some of her most difficult moments. She thanked those who had shown her compassion and stood with her when she needed help.
The journey continued to Zombodze Emuva, where Sikhosana received her new home, also through support from PMI.
Her simple revelation that she had previously been sleeping outside underscored the significance of the intervention.
Zombodze Emuva MP Mkhonta Ntando praised what he described as the Spirit of Nkwe, saying the intervention demonstrated the kind of responsive service and compassion that should characterise efforts to improve the lives of vulnerable citizens.
He encouraged other ministries to embrace the same spirit when assisting people facing difficult circumstances.
Dladla thanked all those who had contributed towards making Sikhosana’s home possible and specifically acknowledged PMI for its support.
At Hosea, another emotional moment unfolded when 68-year-old Siphiwo Dlamini, a mother of two, received a new house constructed with support from Taiwan.
Dlamini expressed gratitude to Their Majesties, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Inkhundla, while praising God for the home she had received.
Hosea MP Sifiso Mabuza praised His Majesty King Mswati III for appointing a Deputy Prime Minister whom he described as caring for the nation and its people.
The final handover took place at Mkhatshwa in Hosea, where 54-year-old Sibonisile Matse received a house supported through the Multi-Hazard programme.
For Matse, the intervention carries particular significance because she shares her household with seven children and five grandchildren. The new home therefore brings improved shelter not only to one beneficiary, but to a large extended family.
Across the four communities, the houses represented far more than bricks, walls and roofs.
For families who had lived through uncertainty and difficult conditions, they brought security, dignity and renewed confidence about the future.
The handovers also demonstrated what can be achieved when Government, communities and development partners work together to identify vulnerable families and provide practical assistance capable of changing everyday lives.
