BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – The Eswatini Government has allocated a significant budget for road development and maintenance for the financial year 2024/25.
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over expenditure on rentals is attributed to the outsourcing of Plant Hire Services, addressing the need for upgrading outdated equipment.
Feasibility Studies and Road Designs
The Ministry of Public Works is updating feasibility studies and detailed designs for the following road projects, funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB):
– Lubombo-Shiselweni Roads:
– MR14: Siphofaneni – Sithobela – Maloma (80.2 km)
– MR14 & MR21: Nsoko- Maloma- Siphambanweni (25.6 km)
The design review is complete, and procurement for construction supervision is underway, pending clearance from the funder.
– Bulembu-Pigg’s Peak (MR20) & Pigg’s Peak-Bulandzeni (MR2):
– The procurement of consultants for updating feasibility studies and detailed designs has been completed.
Contract Repairs and Maintenance Services
The Road Reserve Maintenance Programme aims to maintain approximately 480 km of paved Main Roads (MR) annually, utilizing small contractors. The Ministry received the necessary authority to incur expenditure to implement the program for this financial year, with contracts set to run until 31st March 2025.
Road Reserve Programme
The procurement process for the outsourced road reserve maintenance program is completed, and contracts have been awarded. However, budget constraints limit the extent of coverage. The program will also include in-house teams working on key roads such as:
– Mhlosheni – Mbulungwane (MR12)
– Mhlaleni – Mahamba (MR9)
– Nhlangano – Lavumisa (MR11)
Labour-Based Road Reserve Programme
In collaboration with various organizations, the Ministry engaged 340 individuals for two months, costing approximately E1,400,000 (USD 78,000) to work on the following roads:
– Mbhadlane – Lomahasha (MR3)
– Hhelehhele – Lavumisa (MR8)
While the Ministry planned to fund this program through government resources, discussions regarding payment modalities with the Treasury are ongoing.
Conclusion
Overall, the Eswatini Government is actively investing in road infrastructure to improve connectivity and accessibility across the country. The ongoing projects and collaborations with various stakeholders reflect a commitment to enhancing road maintenance and development.
