Swazi roads declared a national disaster

MBABANE – Swaziland’s parliament has declared the condition of the country’s road system a national disaster. In a noisy session last week one impassioned MP after another lambasted pot-hole-pocked urban streets, eroded rural dirt roads and the pavements of relatively new highways corrugated from overuse and poor maintenance. “Bad roads are causing damage to vehicles and I too want to state that this should be declared a national disaster,” submitted one MP, Phila Buthelezi. The House of Assembly has called upon not just the relevant ministries such as the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Public Works and Construction, which are tasked with servicing the road system, but all ministries to prioritise road rehabilitation. “Students and teachers cannot get to schools so it is a concern of the education ministry. People cannot get to hospitals so it is a concern of the Ministry of Health. The Ministry of Agriculture possesses tractors that can be used to fix roads so farmers can get their harvests to market,” said MP Michael Masilela. The MPs’ call resulted from frustration that roads in their constituencies are neglected because government repair crews are hijacked by cabinet ministers to do private jobs. “This anger coming from almost the entire parliament may actually produce some results. At least cabinet is aware that the MPs are upset with our roads. They are unkempt and dangerous – the roads I mean, not the MPs. I credit the MPs for raising the issue that is of real concern to the road freight industry,” said Isaac Dlamini, an independent road freight contractor. Road freight professionals have complained to FTW that Swaziland uses its road budget to build new highways as “glamour projects” and there is little money for maintenance. Currently, a new highway has been ordered by the country’s authorities from Manzini to the new but unused King Mswati III airport. INSERT Swaziland uses its road budget to build new highways as “glamour projects” and there is little money for maintenance.