Mbabane: The Microprojects Coordinating Unit is undoubtedly making headway in implementing community driven projects as it has disbursed funds amounting to over E438 million in the past two financial years – 2018/19 and 2019/2020.
The statistics are contained in the semi-autonomous unit’s annual reports. For the 2018/19 period, funds amounting to E269 313 667.07 were disbursed to implement community driven projects and capital projects. Forty-two (42) community driven projects were completed comprising of 28 electricity schemes, five water supply schemes, two foot bridges, one gravel road, one dip tank, one neighbourhood care point, a clinic and three community centres.
Regarding capital projects, 108 were completed for various government ministries. The Ministry of Education and Training was the highest beneficiary, with 53 structures completed. These comprise of classrooms, toilets, laboratory fittings, and rehabilitation of various structures in schools. Other projects completed for government ministries include: drilling and development of boreholes, installation of steel tank stands in health facilities, construction of hostel, carpentry fittings and paving at St Georges Army Barracks, rehabilitation of Tinkhundla Centres, rehabilitation of Command Wing at Matsapha Police Accademy, a kitchen at OSSU, a monument/Ivory Tower and Parking at Matsapha Police Academy, upgrading of guardhouse, refurbishing of driveway and fencing at officials’ institutional houses in Mbabane and construction of a grand stand at Matsapha Police Academy Phase I, Phase II of Lozitha resettlement houses, upgrading of floodlights at Somhlolo National Stadium and the rehabilitation of Parliament building.
Under Eswatini Local Government Project (ELGP), 18 projects were completed, while the Regional Development Fund delivered 68 projects which benefited an estimated population of 71 576.
Notably the funds were disbursed for the implementation of projects at Tinkhundla under Shiselweni District (Maseyisini, Matsanjeni South, Zombodze Emuva, Sandleni, Sigwe, Nkwene, Gege, Hosea) and Manzini District (Mkhiweni, Lamgabhi, Ntondozi, Mtfongwaneni, Mhlambanyatsi, Mafutseni, Ludzeludze, Nhlambeni and Ngwephisi.
During the 2019/20 financial year, the unit disbursed funds amounting to E169 532 400.92 for the implementation of community driven projects. Fifty-seven (57) projects benefitting 76 212 people were completed comprising of one dip tank, two water supply schemes, two foot bridges, three suspension foot bridges, three low level bridges, 45 electricity schemes and one community centre. The unit further reported that 151 capital projects were completed for various government ministries. Just like in the previous financial year, the Ministry of Education and Training was the highest beneficiary with 123 structures completed. These include classrooms, toilets, laboratories, staff houses, carpentry fittings and rehabilitation of various structures in schools.
According to the report, other projects completed for government ministries include: drilling and development of boreholes and installation of steel tank stands in health facilities, rehabilitation of kitvchen at Gcina Army Barracks, construction of hostel at Mbuluzi Army Baracks, construction of toilets at new Tinkhundla centres, construction of Mankayane Old Age Home Phase II, construction of grand stand phase II at Matsapha Police Academy, construction of ablutions and staff house at OSSU, renovation of holding cells at Lobamba Police Station, rehabilitation of archives for Mbabane National Library, Treasury Audit department rehabilitation, rehabilitation of Police Headquarters and construction of a water system at Nhlangano Vocational Centre.
Rehabilitation of a three-bedroom house at Malindza Refugee Camp and rehabilitation of the House of Assembly are also projects which were implemented successfully by the unit during the period under review.
Under Eswatini Local Government Project, there were 19 projects which were completed during the reporting period. Under the Rural Development Fund (RDF) funds amounting to E35 268 766.78 were disbursed for the implementation of 79 projects.
…receives projects proposals worth over E320.9m for 2020
Strikingly, government ministries and departments are having confidence in the Microprojects Coordinating Unit as result driven institution.
The fact that the Microproject unit is increasingly regarded as a trusted government agency in augmenting government funding by reaching out to disadvantaged communities in addressing their socio-economic needs is exhibited by the increasing number of proposed projects the unit has received and envisages to undertake this financial year.
For this year, the unit received projects proposals worth over E300 million. These projects are from different sectors which include but not limited to agriculture, community, education, health, transport and communication and water.
Notably, most of the projects under the agriculture sector are dominated by dip tanks construction proposals. The community sector is dominated by Neighbourhood Care Point construction proposals, followed by community halls and vending markets. Proposals from the education sector are dominated by construction of classrooms, laboratories and other structures.
Under rural electrification, the unit has received over 50 applications worth over E27.5 million, received applications worth E175 million under transport and communication, and got proposals worth E23 million under water and sanitation.
The project proposals will undergo programme project cycle that comprises of 12 stages which are: project identification, project application, desk appraisal, field appraisal, project budget, steering committee presentation, project launching, project committee workshop, project implementation, project completion, project evaluation and project maintenance and sustainability.
The Microprojects Programme Project Cycle in detail
The table showing projects proposals
| Sector | Number of projects | Value |
| Transport and communication | 37 | E175 847 989.64 |
| Community Centres | 22 | E31 062 530.40 |
| Rural electrification | 54 | E27 547 515.25 |
| Additional cost | 4 | E25 414 172.31 |
| Water and Sanitation | 9 | E23 080 127.87 |
| Health | 2 | E12 581 283.74 |
| Project cost estimates for Works Ministry | – | E9 185 198.24 |
| Education | 16 | E8 841 797.17 |
| Agriculture | 16 | E7 416 460.79 |
| Grand Total | E320 977 075.41 | |
The Microprojects Programme Cycle
The cycle comprises of 12 stages, details are as shown
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