BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – Government vows to complete all outstanding projects.
Government has made this vow in its Policy Statement from 2023 to 2028, which was tabled in Parliament last month by Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini.
“Government will identify and prioritize infrastructure for investment to stimulate the economy. Government will also endeavour to complete all outstanding projects and ensure that new projects are cost effective, timeously completed, and responsive to the needs of the people and country,” says part of the statement.
The vow made by Government is in line with a command made by His Majesty King Mswati III. This was when he delivered his Speech from the Throne in February this year. “Government should implement a comprehensive national infrastructure programme to upgrade our roads, power supply, offices, water, and housing,” said the king.
According to the statement, Government recognises the role of infrastructure development as a requisite for development and will continue its investment in infrastructure to stimulate growth of the economy to create jobs and bring the much needed services to the public.
This administration’s infrastructure development plan is ambitious and reflective of the mindset of thinking big. With the majority of people predicted to live in cities, the future is urban, and it is critical that we build resilient and sustainable infrastructure, in line with His Majesty’s Vision.
Government will thus invest in bulk infrastructure. Partnerships will be sought for the development of infrastructure, characteristic of developed countries. Initial analysis prioritises infrastructure on water development, electricity generation and distribution, referral hospital, road network, new Parliament Building and Campus, railway line extension, dry port, airport expansion, University of Technology, Vocational Institutions, Internet connectivity infrastructure, institutional housing, factory shells, National Courts, and World Class sporting facilities.
