Mbabane – Outspoken businessman and former Senator Walter Bennett has blasted the Municipal Council of Mbabane over what he questioned as its failure to make roads serving high-profile residents a top priority for rehabilitation.
Bennett questioned the criteria used by the municipality to determine which roads should be rehabilitated, pointing to the road leading to the official Prime Minister’s residence at Hospital Hill, where the Prime Minister is supposed to reside, as well as roads leading to former Prime Minister Dr Absalom Themba Dlamini and the South African High Commissioner.
He raised the concern during the Municipal Council of Mbabane Annual General Meeting held at Emafini Country Lodge last week, questioning why roads serving such high-profile residences had not been prioritised.
“Lapha nawuya ka PM residence at Hospital Hill siminyeminye,” Bennett said, meaning, “When going at PM’s residence at Hospital Hill, you can see that the road is in poor condition.”
He also referred to the roads leading to former Prime Minister Dr Absalom Themba Dlamini and the South African High Commissioner, questioning the basis on which Council determines which roads should receive priority.
Bennett further illustrated his point through a religious example, saying: “Kadzeni bekucalwa ngetindzawo letiya kubafundisi, angitsi bekubelungu. Nikhumbule na Jesu, batsi umhlophe.”
Translated, he said: “In the old days, pastors were given first priority.”
His remarks were aimed at questioning why roads serving high-profile individuals were not being given greater priority, particularly when the municipality has a substantial road maintenance and rehabilitation budget.
The criticism comes as the Municipal Council of Mbabane spent E21.90 million on road rehabilitation, street maintenance and drainage during the 2025/26 financial year, compared with E15.77 million in 2024/25.
This represented an increase of about E6.13 million, or 39 per cent, from the previous financial year.
The municipality reported completing approximately five kilometres of road rehabilitation during the year, alongside wider maintenance work across the city.
A total of 40.7 kilometres of unpaved community roads underwent grading and re-gravelling, while 43.3 kilometres of stormwater drainage lines were cleaned to protect roads from water damage.
Among the specific areas targeted were the Mdlebe/Mahala Street intersection, Litete Street and Imfuyo Street, while drainage and culvert works were identified for Mandanda, Kamhlaba and Sir Robert Crydon.
The municipality also completed a footbridge at Siphetfo Street as part of its infrastructure interventions.
Bennett’s criticism puts the spotlight on the criteria Council uses when deciding which roads receive rehabilitation first, particularly whether the condition of a road, its level of use, access to important facilities and the communities it serves are clearly considered when priorities are set.
The issue of the Hospital Hill residence has also attracted attention at national level, with Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini previously raising concerns about the ageing official residence.
Dlamini has said the residence is too old and costly to maintain, with about E5 million reportedly required every five years for renovations and upkeep, and has called for the building to be demolished and replaced.
The Prime Minister instead continues to reside at his private home, meaning the Hospital Hill road Bennett referred to leads to the official residence where the head of government is expected to reside.
Bennett’s intervention ultimately challenged Council to account for its road priorities and explain to residents the criteria used to determine which roads receive rehabilitation when millions of emalangeni are being spent on the city’s road network.
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