E15m water project for Maphalaleni
MAPHALALENI – Wednesday marked a new era in the lives of community members under the Maphalaleni Constituency, as the Republic of China (Taiwan) launched an over E15 million water project.
The project is known as Lubuyane Clean Water and will benefit a population of close to 2 000 and 497 homesteads.
The community has never known clean water for almost their entire lifetime and currently share water with livestock. Chiefdoms expected to receive clean water included Ebulimeni, Lubhujini, Busheletini and Mtjopane.
The Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Jeremy Liang presented the project to the community on Wednesday morning.
Liang said Taiwan and Eswatini had bilateral relations dating back to 1968 when the country received its independence.
Livelihood
He said they had partnered with government and were working together for the improvement of the livelihood of the people. “It is a heart-to-heart relationship and no strings attached as the feeling is mutual,” stated the ambassador.
Liang said they were proud, that from day one of the relationship, they had worked with Eswatini engaging in the national development projects. He said there were huge national development projects, including the King Mswati III International Airport, Royal Science and Technology Park and the Mbabane Government Hospital, to name a few. Liang said there were also the Technical Commission and the health care mission where they conducted visits to various communities to provide services.
The ambassador noted that they had at least 82 per cent coverage of electricity and were very proud to partner with government. He said they were working closely with the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development and had moved to the second phase, which was the water project. “The projects involve the basic needs of the people. This is something that all governments around the world are working on, to provide good basic services to the people.”
Liang added that the government of Eswatini was hardworking, although there were many challenges they faced with limited resources, but they fought hard for the benefit of the people.
He said the presentation of the project under Maphalaleni Constituency was another testimony that government was moving ahead, working harder to provide services to the people around the country. Liang said some projects took time but they believed that with determination, they would achieve at least a project each day and area by area to enable majority of the people to enjoy clean water. Furthermore, he mentioned that they were working closely with the Members of Parliament (MPs) Mabulala Maseko and visited the constituencies to assist the communities as they wanted them to allay some of the difficulties which they had experienced. Liang said they had a close friendship with Maseko, who was also the Minister of Public Service, whom he said was always calling him to find out how they could develop his constituency. He appreciated Maseko’s honesty and hardworking personality.
Thanked
MP Maseko thanked the ambassador for rubbing shoulders with him and his constituency, adding that he hoped it was the beginning of good things.
He stated that a healthy nation was one which had access to potable water. The MP added that they were pleased that a sizeable number of the Maphalaleni Constituency would soon be receiving clean water through the support of the Republic of China (Taiwan). He said as team players in the constituency, they had goals but some did not ‘make it through the net’. Maseko said of 10 goals aimed, at least eight had been scored, hence they had realised development at Maphalaleni.
The MP noted that four chiefdoms including Ebulimeni, Lubhujini, Busheletini and Mtjopane, would receive the clean water.
He noted that schools would also benefit from the water project. He said at least 2 300 pupils from Eluvinjelweni High School, which had an enrolment of 400 pupils, Maphalaleni High School with 400 pupils and Kuhlahla Primary school with an enrolment of 300 would also benefit. Other schools that would benefit are Malandzela Primary, which has an enrolment of 600 and Maphalaleni Community School with 600 pupils. The MP said teachers would also benefit and a clinic.
Experience
Maseko stated that they would no longer experience water-borne diseases in their community as they would be receiving clean water. He urged the chiefdoms to support the project and do what was expected from the community members.
According to Maseko, the Republic of China (Taiwan) had visited the constituency on several occasions because of the love they had for the people.
Micro Projects Director Sibusiso Mbingo appreciated the E50 million funding directed to Nkwene, Sigombeni, Matsanjeni North and Maphalaleni. Mbingo said access to potable water was still a big assignment, which as government, they needed to pursue. “We have a huge demand for community based projects.”
He said statistically, the coverage in water was sitting at 67 per cent, which needed to be improved.
Mbingo said soon, they would be inviting the ambassador to tour the water schemes which had been funded and the impact which they had in terms of changing the lives of emaSwati.
He stated that they could not stop appealing for donor funding, as he had noticed that the needs of the communities were rising every year and they had not met them. Mbingo said they had a huge responsibility to develop the communities, adding that he worked with around 15 ministries. He said when they received donor funding, it was appreciated.