BY PHUMELELE MKHONTA
MBABANE– Hard at work!
This is the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, who’s Annual Performance Report of 2022/2023, revealed that the Ministry completed 11 major projects; of which some were unexpected due to natural disasters.
According to the report under the achievements section, the construction of the Manzini Golf Course Interchange is 99 per cent physically complete and opened to traffic.
“The Ministry was able to roll out a mitigation plan to respond to emergency road failures across the country that resulted from the excessive rains and Cyclone Eloise.
“The Contract for the ‘Updating of the Feasibility Study and Detailed Design of the Manzini Bypass Project’ has been concluded with the Consultant having produced an Inception Report,” listed the report.
The performance report also revealed that the Road Sector Reform Bill was undergoing Parliament processes with both houses.
“The First Phase of the Probase Programme of 200km has been completed. · Successfully launched the construction continuation of the Single Seal Programme on three sites totalling 19.5km (Motshane- Sigangeni (D78), Siteki – Maphungwane (D12) and Siphambanweni – Nsalitje (MR21).
“There was also the completion of Mpaka ICD and a test run of the port was conducted at the end of September 2022.
“Also, feasibility studies and designs, and fencing of Matsapha ICD at 100 per cent and 90per cent complete, respectively.”
The reports also revealed that there was maintenance of 49 houses throughout the country in which re-roofing, aproning, ceiling fitting, plumbing, tiling and septic tank construction works were undertaken.
Also, there was electrical maintenance to 22 houses in Manzini where replacement of electrical fittings, upgrading of distribution boards and rewiring works were undertaken and provision of architectural and quantity surveying professional services to seven homesteads at Lobamba and Mafutseni which are at 86% complete.
An overall recurrent budget of E 744 552 608 was allocated for the current financial year. As at the end of the third quarter E636 378 429 was actual expenditure with a release of E847 945 741 implying that there are pending commitments equal to the difference. “Projections to end of the financial year indicate that E768 505 392 will be spent reflecting a 103per cent expenditure rate. The over expenditure on Items 01(Salaries), 05 (Rentals), 06 (consumable material) is a result of under allocation for salaries, car rentals for security forces to beef their fleet pending the procurement of new vehicles under the replacement program.”
