JAMES HALL MBABANE – Swaziland’s border posts are in such decrepit shape that they are harming the economy by hindering the swift passage of road freight hauliers, Minister of Public Works and Transport Elijah Shongwe discovered during a recent tour of customs facilities. Shongwe’s first official visit to Swaziland’s key border posts, which are frequented by long distance hauliers from Johannesburg, Nelspruit and Durban, was an eye-opener for the minister. “These facilities are inadequate. They slow down commerce,” said Shongwe. Ministry officials noted that landlocked Swaziland depended on road transport to bring in industrial raw materials and consumer goods, and bring out manufacturing and agricultural exports. Key stops on the tour were the eastern Oshoek border post and the northern Mananga border post. Decaying physical infrastructure was identified as the main problem experienced by all posts. A ministry source said working in decades-old structures had demoralised customs officials, and this had negatively affected their job performance. Transport ministry officials conducted their tour in preparation for this year’s government budget, when they intend to request funds for border post upgrades. The first hand information gathering was intended to motivate their appeal, and allow Shongwe to address questions put to him in parliament during the budget debate, which commences next month.
