BY PHUMELELE MKHONTA
MBABANE– Government has lived up to its mandate of improving and developing livelihoods.
This has been reflected in the Microprojects Programme (MPP), which has positively impacted 133 505 lives of emaSwati through the capital and rural development fund (RDF).
This has been revealed in the newly-published 2021/2022 project report for Microprojects.
The document presents a report on interventions executed by the Microprojects Programme (MPP) in the financial year 2021/2022.
MPP is a semi-autonomous unit under the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development. The unit implements community demand driven projects with the aim to improve access to rural and peri-urban infrastructure facilities and thus contribute to improving livelihoods and alleviating poverty in line with SDG 1. The Microprojects Programme is also an implementing agency for capital projects under various Government Ministries and projects under the Regional Development Fund (RDF) for the Ministry of Tinkhundla Administration and Development (MTAD) in an endeavour to further contribute to the overall economic development in Eswatini.
When deducing work completed under the year in review, the report revealed that 43 community demand driven projects were completed, these comprise 13 dip tanks; three grazing schemes, five water supply schemes, two semidetached teachers’ houses, one school fencing, three footbridges, two road strips, two low-level crossings, three suspended footbridges, seven community halls, and two community markets.
“These community projects will directly benefit an estimated population of 82 732,” the MPP annual report explained.
According to the report, 163 capital projects were completed and they constituted of 133 for the Ministry of Education and Training, 25 for the Ministry of Health, and five for other government ministries.
“Capital projects completed consist of structures in schools (classrooms, staff houses, toilets, laboratories, administration blocks, laboratory fittings, provision of potable water systems), screening offices and provision of potable water in various health facilities, structures for the Ministry of ICT, rehabilitated structures at the National Psychiatric Centre, TB Hospital, Somhlolo National Stadium, Lubombo Referral Hospital, Mbabane Government Hospital, Matsapha Police Academy, Somhlolo National Stadium, Eswatini Parliament.
“Medical gas plants at the TB Hospital and Lubombo Referral Hospital were installed while installation of a COVID -19 vaccine storage freezer was completed at the Central Medical Stores. The Regional Development Fund completed 89 projects, 17 Income Generating Projects (IGPs), and 72 Infrastructure projects. These projects will directly benefit an estimated population of 50 773 (sic),” read the report.
In total, 133 505 people were beneficiaries of the above mentioned projects.
“Although a considerable number of projects implemented this financial year are complete and functional, they are still at Defect Liability Period (DLP) stage. These comprise of 66 community demand driven projects, 1 029 projects under the Ministry of Education and Training, 19 for the Ministry of Health, and seven from other ministries.
“These are; the provision of water in health facilities, construction of a Referral and Emergency Complex at the Mbabane Government Hospital, construction of structures for the Ministry of Agriculture, His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS), Prime Minister’s Office, clinics, rehabilitated structures at Piggs Peak Government Hospital, Mbabane Government Hospital, Lubombo Referral Hospital, Nhlangano Vocational Training Centre, Mankayane Fire Station, Matsapha Factory Shell, and Lubombo Regional Police Station. “The Unit continues to implement several projects in all sector programs. Currently, 130 community demand driven projects, 257 RDF projects, and 192 capital projects under various ministries are being implemented,” read the report.
