Cash-strapped Swaziland can’t afford to fix roads

Minister concedes negative
impact on development JAMES HALL MBABANE – Trucking firms and local residents in the southern Shiselweni region invited Minister of Public Works and Transport Elijah Shongwe to see for himself the poor state of the province’s roads, which they insist is slowing commercial development and hindering the delivery of goods. On his tour of inspection, Minister Shongwe had no choice but to concede their point. “We have to ensure that these roads are well constructed and maintained,” the minister said. Despite the opening of a second border post with Mozambique this year, road transport of Swazi exports to Maputo, and the importation of industrial raw materials from that port, are not likely to pick up without an area-wide road upgrade. Ongoing road infrastructure improvements nationwide are being undertaken by private contractors. Shongwe said government was unable to do its part maintaining public roads because of old or irreparable equipment. He cited bulldozers and road graders junked in government yards. “The ministry cannot afford to buy new machinery, because our funds are committed to tarring the new public highways,” he said. Reached for comment, road transport operators in the central Manzini and northern Hhohho regions (Mbabane) felt government road infrastructure efforts should continue to be prioritised where most of Swaziland’s commercial and industrial activity is currently situated, in the north and central areas.