BY KWANELE TSABEDZE
MBABANE – A new association of professionals has been launched.
In a bid to formalise the network of professionals in the field, Eswatini town and regional planners have launched the Eswatini Town Planners’ Association (ETPA). The launch was officiated by Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Urban Housing and Development Clifford Mamba today at the Hilton Inn Hotel in Mbabane.
Speaking during the launch of the association, Mamba expressed appreciation for the cooperation of professionals in the field in establishing the official umbrella body for town and regional planners.
“It was concluded that Eswatini would greatly benefit from having town planners in the country. Town planners help a lot with the arrangement of places – it could be in towns or undeveloped spaces. They help the public when planning for land development,” said Mamba.
Mamba added that the association will ensure that people’s livelihoods are put at the forefront of urban and housing development in the country, hence they should take that responsibility seriously.
“It is important in the country to have town planners doing their job as given the authority – in order to promote welfare where people live and work. We are therefore happy to have the organisation established, adding to the other organisations of professionals in the country, like engineers and architects,” said Mamba.
Much like the other associations, the Eswatini Town Planners’ Association will be an independent member-owned non-profit organisation, formed by professionals in the field – Eswatini town and regional planners in this case.
Mamba further encouraged the public to get help from either public town planners who work for Government or private town planners who work independently, citing that they can all be found under the newly formed ETPA.
