<\/p>\n
The AfDB and the Government of eSwatini are financing two major road projects aimed at improving connectivity and supporting economic activity in some of the country\u2019s poorest rural communities.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The projects cover the 80.2 km Siphofaneni-Sithobela-Maloma-Nsoko road, known as MR14, and the 25.7 km Maloma-Siphambanweni road, known as MR21.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The roads form the first phase of the $175.71 million eSwatini Road Infrastructure Improvement Programme. AfDB is financing 80% of the programme, equivalent to $140.6 million, while the Government of Eswatini is contributing 20%, or $35.1 million.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Russell Dlamini launched the project in early July, marking the start of construction in the Lubombo and Shiselweni regions. \u201cWe want the whole country to have tarred roads so that people can travel safely,\u201d Dlamini said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Dlamini said the project would support jobs, improve access to national assets and position eSwatini for stronger regional economic participation.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is what first-world infrastructure looks like: it creates jobs today, integrates national assets like the Mpakeni Dam for tomorrow, and positions eSwatini as an economic leader in the Southern African Development Community region for decades to come,\u201d Dlamini said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The roads are expected to cut transport costs and travel times by at least half, improving access to markets, schools, clinics and other essential services.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The project is also expected to support agricultural growth, private investment and regional trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Youth and women\u2019s unemployment in the Lubombo and Shiselweni regions is estimated at 54.3%, and poor road conditions have long limited economic activity.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In addition to road construction, the programme will train 200 young people, including 80 girls, in construction skills. A further 50 young people will receive entrepreneurship training.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The project will also fund social infrastructure, including micro-water systems, schools, clinics and markets along the route.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
AfDB Deputy Director General for Southern Africa Moono Mupotola said the Bank will support Eswatini\u2019s economic transformation through a $1.03 billion investment programme over the next five years.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Mupotola said the programme falls under AfDB\u2019s 2025-2030 Country Strategy Paper, which focuses on climate-resilient infrastructure and stronger private-sector competitiveness.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
AfDB\u2019s active eSwatini portfolio has grown from $226.7 million to $527 million across 10 operations in five years.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Roads Department within the Ministry of Public Works and Transport will implement the project over 36 months.<\/p>\n
–AfDB\/ChannelAfrica–<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":41083,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"news-type":[44],"class_list":["post-41082","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","news-type-finance","entry"],"acf":{"short_description":"Two African Development Bank (AfDB)-backed road projects are expected to reduce travel times, lower transport costs and improve access to markets in rural eSwatini.","published_date":"","news_description":"Two African Development Bank (AfDB)-backed road projects are expected to reduce travel times, lower transport costs and improve access to markets in rural eSwatini.","form_embed":"","author":"","image_caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/41082","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/41082\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41084,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/41082\/revisions\/41084"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41083"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41082"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"news-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-type?post=41082"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}