Roads rehabilitation programme

EZULWINI – The PM yesterday disclosed that during the 2022/2023 financial year, the government embarked on an intensive countrywide road rehabilitation programme.

However, the premier acknowledged that the programme was hugely disrupted by erratic weather conditions that came with a lot of incessant rains, damaging more roads in the process.

He assured that this year government would continue to put more effort into road rehabilitation and maintenance. He said that would include the rehabilitation of low-level crossings, regravelling and blading of roads, street lighting maintenance, road reserves maintenance, countrywide asphalt programme, guardrails maintenance and road-marking.

“We are also looking at entering into a partnership that will see the construction of several major roads across the country spread over the next four years,” said the premier.

He also disclosed that some of the tender processes for some of the projects were already underway.

“We are happy with the progress of rural water and rural electrification.

“The government worked in collaboration with partners and managed to complete water projects to the value of E51.9 million, benefitting 15 515 people in different parts of the country,” said the PM.

He said there were plans for new potable water projects to the value of E298.05 million. He said those projects were to benefit 45 620 people.

The prime minister said that through the support of the World Bank, the government will also be developing a national potable water supply, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) master plan to guide the planning of water projects in the country.