BY THEMBA ZWANE
BULEKENI– Zombodze Emuva Member of Parliament Ntando Mkhonta has praised government, through the Microprojects Programme under the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development, for its significant contribution to development initiatives in Eswatini.
The MP was speaking at Bulekeni in Mthombe, within the Zombodze Emuva constituency, during the launch of a community footbridge project. He described Microprojects as a key driver of rural development and commended its leadership and partners for their commitment.
“I would like to thank Microprojects Director Tim Mbingo and his team, as well as Engineers in Action leader Ana Jovanovic and her team,” Mkhonta said. “Microprojects plays a very important role in development issues such as this. I truly appreciate the Director and everyone involved.”
Mkhonta also paid tribute to an elderly woman, now deceased, in whose honour the footbridge was launched. The woman is remembered for having once been swept away by the river during flooding but miraculously survived the incident. Her experience, the MP said, highlighted the dangers faced by community members who are forced to cross the river without safe infrastructure.
He explained that the community had been attempting to address the need for a footbridge for many years, which was why construction materials, including rocks, had long been delivered and stored along the riverbank in anticipation of the project.
The MP further acknowledged the efforts of past and present community leaders, including the former Member of Parliament, Indvuna yeNkhundla and Bucopho, as well as the current leadership structures. He also commended the local project committee tasked with overseeing the implementation of the footbridge.
Mkhonta noted that the journey had not been easy, citing financial constraints that at times threatened to delay progress. Despite these challenges, he said, stakeholders remained committed to achieving the project’s objectives.
He expressed appreciation to Microprojects for approving the project, particularly after the incident involving the elderly woman, which underscored the urgency of providing safe crossing points for residents.
Looking ahead, the MP said the community still required additional infrastructure, including a bridge and road construction in other parts of the area. He expressed hope that government would continue to support such initiatives to improve access and safety for residents.
Mkhonta added that community members had pledged to play their part by fulfilling their responsibilities within the agreed timeframes, especially regarding the construction of the 800-metre suspended footbridge.
He concluded by emphasising that cooperation between government, development partners and local communities remained essential in delivering sustainable development and improving the quality of life in rural areas.
