Parties eat into Swaziland’s road upgrade budget

Two projects halted James Hall MBABANE - After spending R102 million on back-to-back celebrations - last week’s summit for eight visiting heads of state and King Mswati’s upcoming 35th birthday party - cash-strapped government has suspended some infrastructure improvements. Construction on two major road projects has halted. The road transportation industry is lamenting the postponement of a by-pass road at Mbabane that would route traffic away from the city centre, and provide unimpeded access from Oshoek border post to the Matsapha Industrial Estate. A road to serve Nhlangano and the new industrial estate in the southern Shiselweni district has also been put on hold. However, a supplementary budget passed by cabinet this week allocates R67 million to a road in the central agricultural area of Mliba; R31 million for a road serving the Lavumisa border post that is utilised by truck traffic from Durban; R18 million for bridges and feeder roads for existing highways; and R89 million for a new road linking Mandlamgempisi and Mshweni. “Government needs to prioritise road improvement in Swaziland. Access to all areas is the preliminary for economic growth, so what are they waiting for?” wondered the manager of a Matsapha-based road freight firm. Meanwhile, R10 million will be spent this year to improve roads leading to King Mswati’s palaces.