Mabulala, Mkhiweni MP in dispute over E20m bridge
MBABANE - Two Members of Parliament (MPs) are in dispute over who is responsible for a bridge worth over E20 million that will connect Mbuluzi with Luve communities.
The project funded by Micro-3rojects will be constructed to benefit communities under Maphalaleni Inkhundla, whose M3 is Mabulala Maseko who is also Minister of 3ublic Service as well as those of Mkhiweni Inkhundla under M3 1dlelayekuphila Masuku.
The Mkhiweni constituency is said to have raised a complaint after feeling left out during the launch of the project. This resulted in them not honouring an invitation to the event. It was also gathered that some traditional leaders within Mkhiweni issued a statement to all of their representatives not to attend the event since they were not involved in it.
The launch took place last )riday at Maphalaleni, where M3 Maseko introduced $fritim &ontractors as the company that would be responsible for the construction of the bridge, which is expected to be completed after eight months.
Confusion
*abangani 'lamini, Maphalaleni
Indvuna Yenkhundla, confirmed the confusion and said M3 Masuku as well as some representatives from the same inkhundla, were informed about the launch but did not show up.
“:e extended our invite to the people of Mkhiweni, together with their M3 about the launch of such a big project, but they never showed up. They said they never received anything formal from us regarding the launch of the bridge project,” said 'lamini.
He revealed that he received a call from Maphalaleni M3 that M3 Masuku had reported to the prime minister 3M that a project was being launched without their involvement. He also alleged that Masuku took the matter to the Speaker of the House of $ssembly 3etros Mavimbela.
The Maphalaleni indvuna yenkhundla said the confusion would not affect the project as the contractor had already been introduced. He said the construction of the bridge was expected to start next week.
He further said he was not sure whether the people of Mkhiweni wanted to be the ones launching the project. He said this was not the first project they had launched.
“Tsine lama-projects awasasitfusi. :e are coming from another ( million bridge project next to Mbulu]i, on the road to 1kiliji and 1gcayini, which is almost complete now. :e are now doing final touch-ups. Motor vehicles have now started using the bridge which also serves Sigombeni communities,” he narrated.
He said pupils from 1singweni High School and around Sigombeni would
Minister of Public Service, Mabulala Maseko who is also Maphalaleni MP. travel easily to schools. 'lamini said even those travelling to schools in Man]ini would not struggle to get to school on time. He said they had not invited ministers when launching previous projects within the area.
“(ven when we launched a ( . million water project through Mirco-3rojects, we got a contractor that did work to completion, without being overseen by a &abinet minister,” stated 'lamini. He said when they visited the Mkhiweni people regarding the construction of Mbulu]i /uve %ridge, they clearly stated that they had not come to cause any confusion or conflict.
“I advised them to go to the regional administrator 5$ if they felt there was a dispute. $ll community members located within these tinkhundla will benefit from this project,” he explained. He further said the construction of the bridge would curb accidents that usually occured during the rainy seasons. 'lamini then made reference to certain incidents, where motorists lost control of their cars which plunged into Mbulu]i 5iver, while others were washed away by heavy floods. The
said community members did not contribute money towards the project.
Meanwhile, M3 Masuku said the traditional leaders registered concern that the Maphalaleni M3 should have informed them at least four days before the launch. “I can confirm that we did not attend the launch due to not being well informed by the Maphalaleni M3. $fter engaging with Mbelebeleni traditional leaders, they told me not to bother going there.
Project
Our indvuna yenkhundla was informed a day before the launch. I was supposed to inform the traditional leaders about this project before taking any further step,” said Masuku.
3rince Mkhatjwa said initially, the bridge that connected Mbulu]i /uve was supposed to be monitored at Mkhiweni, which was within the Man]ini 5egion and not Maphalaleni. “The site of the project should be at Mbelebeleni, which is under Mkhiweni, not at Maphalaleni,” he stated.
:hen asked to clarify the reasons for reporting the matter to the Speaker and the 3M, Masuku said he was sent by
Mbelebeleni residents to do so. “Bangitfumile vele baseMbelebeleni The people of Mbelebeleni sent me to the Speaker to enTuire more on whether their land was sold to Maphalaleni people. They told me that they wanted to have an audience with the Speaker,” he narrated.
3rince Mkhatjwa, from Mbelebeleni &hief *cokoma¶s household, said they met the Speaker on Monday after the Maphalaleni M3 Maseko had gone ahead with the launch of the project without their authorisation.
Some of the Mbelebeleni princes who went to have an audience with the Speaker included princes 3hu]ukuvela, Majahonkhe and 1singi]ile.
He said what the Maphalaleni M3 did was a sign of disrespect to the chief and the Man]ini 5$.
“:e went with princes in all the households under &hief *cokoma to 3arliament to meet the Speaker. :e did that because we wanted to protect our chief as well as Maseko himself. The Mbelebeleni residents were angry after feeling being undermined by Maseko. So, bekungenteka noma yini anything could have happened ,” said 3rince Mkhatjwa.
The prince wanted to know whether Maseko had assumed the position of Mbelebeleni &hief.
“It means now, we have a new chief who is Maseko. :e don¶t know who appointed him,” he said.
He said they were not against the project as it would benefit all members of the communities but that protocol had not been followed.
“:e are not against the project because it was the .ing who said a bridge was supposed to be constructed there,” he narrated.
3rince Mkhatjwa said they were currently waiting for a response from Speaker Mavimbela regarding their complaint. :hen asked to respond to the concerns people of Mkhiweni, Minister Maseko said he was surprised at the turn of events because all along they had been working in agreement.
“:hat I can say is that we have been working together all along, while doing other projects. I don¶t know where the tension is now coming from. :e are neighbours after all,” said Maseko.
The M3 said no dispute should be allowed to affect the project because both constituencies would benefit from the bridge.
Completion
“:e have school-going children who will make use of the bridge after its completion. The people of Maphalaleni used to struggle during the time when we had no proper bridge,” said the minister. He said all paperwork regarding the project was under Maphalaleni Inkhundla and, therefore, his constituency was in charge of the project. He further said he was the one who made applications regarding the construction of the bridge.
Speaker Mavimbela confirmed receipt of a complaint from Mbelebeleni residents regarding the ( million bridge project launched by the Maphalaleni M3. “I have received a report from Mbelebeleni residents regarding a complaint over the ( million Mbulu]i /uve %ridge project which was launched a week ago,” said Mavimbela. The Speaker further said they were dealing with the matter though he could not divulge details.
Micro-3rojects 3rogramme &oordination 'irector Sibusiso Mbingo said the Mbulu]i /uve %ridge project would cost about ( . million and would be completed in eight months time. He said Micro-3rojects had collaborated with the Ministry of 3ublic :orks and Transport in the project.
Mbingo said the organisation was aware of the tension on the ground but would remain neutral.
“:e are aware of the ongoing tension between Maphalaleni and Mkhiweni but Micro-3rojects, which is a government department, remains neutral in whatever is happening. This is a government project intended to benefit both communities. *overnment resources will run the project until its completion,” said Mbingo.