BY ANDREW DLAMINI
MBABANE – The Eswatini Government has spent E41 million on the construction of 21 footbridges in 18 Tinkhundla centres countrywide.
This expenditure happened in the past six years and has benefited over 37 000 Emaswati.
Preparing to pour an anchor after completion of towers. Courtesy of Madison Sankovitz.
In fact, the construction of essential footbridges has brought connectivity and progress to many communities that were unaccessible before.
The development is contained in a report compiled by Microprojects seen by Eswatini Positive News.
The report states that these footbridges, strategically built in key areas, have become lifelines for the residents, serving over 37,065 beneficiaries across the kingdom of Eswatini.
According to the report, the total amount spent on the construction is E 41 330 443.
The footbridges are found in the following communities: Edlangeni (Hhukwini), eNdlembeni (Piggs Peak), KoNtshingila/Nhletjeni (Sandleni), Mathangeni (eNdzingeni), KaBhekinkhosi (Kukhanyeni), Mdlasomi (Ngwempisi), Maphikelela (Maphalaleni), Lubanjiswano (LaMgabhi), Mbhonconco (Ngudzeni), Mhlathuze Madvwaleni (Methula), Tftufuka Mvubula (Nkhomiyahlaba), Motane (Mahlangatsha), Masongwane (Nkwene), Emaphoveleni (Ludzeludze) and Kazenzele and Sibonelo Footbridges (Mtsambama).
The report further states that footbridges that are still under construction are found in the following communities: Emlaleni Mabovini (Kukhanyeni), Nyawoluhle (Ngwempisi), Mandlakhe (Shiselweni II), Emkhiweni (Nkonjeni), Mboma (Mangconco).
In 2017, the Engineers In Action Bridge Program (EIA) was founded in the Kingdom of Eswatini.
The report states that EIA has built fifteen suspended bridges throughout the Kingdom alongside the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development (MEPD).
It states that this partnership was made possible through the technical and logistical partnership of Microprojects.
It says the government contribution from 2017 – 2022 was E14 Million and the contribution in 2023 is projected to be E3.8 million.
Masongwane Bridge.
The EIA Facebook post showed the latest bridge that has been finished which is the Masongwane Bridge, that was completed in July. The post stated, “The beautiful crossing would not have been possible without the amazing, hardworking, and motivated community in and around the Nkwene Inkhundla”.
According to the EIA report, the bridges with the highest contributions were Edlangeni (Hhukwini) with E4 214 400 and Nhletjeni (Piggs Peak) with E3 292 851.
In 2017, for ten weeks, the Edlangeni community, along with University of Colorado Boulder students and the EIA Program, constructed a 240-foot (73-meter) suspended bridge. As the third engineered footbridge in Eswatini at the time, it provides year-round safe access to vital resources such as education, healthcare, farms, and markets.
The Edlangeni Footbridge completed in July 2017. Courtesy of Madison Sankovitz.
Approximately one billion people in poor countries don’t have a reliable road to travel on throughout the year. This is mainly because rivers flood during the rainy seasons, making it impossible to cross. Without bridges, essential activities like going to school, work, or seeing a doctor can be extremely dangerous. This lack of proper roads affects people’s ability to get an education, support their families, and receive medical care.
The construction of the bridges has greatly improved the quality of life in the affected communities. According to the EIA report there is a 12 percent increase in children enrolled in schools, 18 percent increase in healthcare treatment, 56 percent increase in crop yield, 20 percent increase on returns in investments, 75 percent increase in farm profits, 30 percent increase labor market income and 59 percent increase of women in the labor market.
