BY MFANUFIKILE KHATHWANE
MBABANE – The Shiselweni Region is making significant strides in improving sanitation and hygiene, with the Eswatini Water Supply & Sanitation Access Project (EWSSAP) reporting major progress across rural communities, informal settlements, schools, and health centers.
According to the presentation by Nobuhle Matsebula, EWSSAP Components on February 17, 2026, the sanitation component of the project aims to eliminate open defecation, improve hygiene, and provide safe, dignified sanitation facilities.
The project targets 36 schools, 4 health centers, 694 informal settlement units, and 7 806 rural households, benefiting more than 31 224 residents, including students, patients, and families in rural and informal settlements.
A key focus is Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) programs, which have reached 40 schools, 132 early childhood centers (ECCE), and 7 clinics, promoting proper hygiene practices and fostering long-term behaviour change.
A highlight of the project is at Mathendele Township in Nhlangano, which faced long-standing sanitation challenges. In 2025, the government engaged contractors to construct toilets in the township, easing communal tensions caused by limited shared facilities. By late 2025, several toilet units were already completed, providing immediate relief to residents.
These efforts are part of the broader “WASH Shiselweni Region Initiative”, launched in August 2025, which aims to construct 10 000 Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) toilets across the region. This initiative targets informal settlements in Nhlangano, Shiselweni 1, and Zombodze Emuva, providing much-needed facilities to thousands of households.
Construction of sanitation facilities under EWSSAP continues to progress well. Three lots of VIP toilets and pit latrines in informal settlements are underway, with completion anticipated by April 2026. Institutional sanitation is also advancing rapidly, with 87% of facilities completed, including 432 units in schools and 16 in health centers, expected to be fully operational by March 2026.
Despite the successes, the project has faced some challenges, including inclement weather causing construction delays, difficult ground conditions such as hard rock or swampy areas, procurement and execution coordination, and access issues for pipeline alignments.
These challenges have been addressed through close monitoring, catch-up programs, engineering solutions like blasting or elevated pipelines, and stakeholder engagement, ensuring progress continues without compromising quality.
The EWSSAP Project Coordinator emphasized: “Sanitation is vital for the health and well-being of communities in the Shiselweni Region. Our goal is to ensure that every beneficiary has access to safe, clean, and sustainable facilities, while fostering hygiene awareness that will benefit future generations.”
With ongoing construction, educational campaigns, and community engagement, the Shiselweni Region is on track for safer, cleaner, and healthier living environments, marking a major achievement in regional sanitation development.
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