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AFDB TO FORK OUT OVER E1M FOR TWO PROJECTS

By Qondile Ntiwane | 2019-07-16

The African Development Bank (AfDB) will folk out about E1.14 billion to finance two projects being the Manzini region Water Supply and Sanitation Project and the development of Manzini Golf Course Interchange Project.

This was revealed by Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg during the loan signing agreement held at the ministry’s boardroom yesterday.

The Manzini Golf Interchange project is part of the on-going Manzini Mbadlane (MR3) Highway project which will link the Manzini Highway and that to the King Mswati III International.

The project location at the Manzini Golf Intersection represents a node along east-west corridor linking the three east route countries.

The Water Supply and Sanitation project, on the other hand, targets the Manzini region, which is the most populous region in the country and the Eswatini Water Services Corporation (EWSC) being faced with challenges to provide water and sanitation services in some areas in the region, this project becomes a major solution for growth.

Government has secured E420 million and E720 million, respectively for the projects.

The minister said it was against this backdrop that the proposed project came about with the intention to expand access to water ad sanitation services in the grater areas of Manzini.

“I would like to thank the bank for facilitating all the processes leading to today’s ceremony and also for agreeing to stage this signing agreement in the Kingdom.

“This is a momentous event and indeed a joyful day for the government since it symbolises a breakthrough in the efforts of providing potable water and addressing the traffic congesting in Manzini with the resources required to finance these two projects, which are a priority to the Kingdom,” he said.

He said the targeted areas included Nhlambeni, Manzini South, Mtfongwaneni and Mafutseni.

“In these four areas, only 22 per cent have access to reliable water services and the remaining rely on poorly managed or unsafe boreholes or surface water,” he said.

Rijkenberg said it was through infrastructure such as these two that would create more jobs and provide the necessary impetus to grow the economy and transform the lives of EmaSwati.

“Being the minister responsible for the national budget I am aware that this is not the last time we are reaching to the bank for assistance of this nature as there is a number of projects and programmes already in the pipeline that will require the bank’s support, hence government would continue to real on the bank’s support and cooperation,” he said.

Meanwhile Manager, Implementation and Support Division AFDB (African Development Fund) Noel Kulemeka said they were happy to work with the Kingdom.

“We ought to have signed this agreement a while ago but had to make sure that everything was on track. The signing of this agreement is a sign of a continued commitment by the bank to Eswatini.

“We value our clients and I must note that a lot of background work has been done, processes and analysis,’ he said.

He added that they had also signed a protocol of agreement with the EWSC, which was signed by CEO Jabulile Mashwama during the event.

“We have financed a number of water projects in the country and we are hoping to continue doing more in future,” he said.

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