Lobamba – Senator Sicalo Dlamini has cautioned Government against awarding tenders under the E2.4 billion National Housing and Infrastructure Programme to “Bomahamba nendlwana” contractors, a term he used to describe companies that suddenly emerge when lucrative government tenders become available, but disappear afterwards.
He questioned what had happened to contractors who were previously awarded the job of building government houses, saying none of those companies appeared to remain traceable.
Dlamini said Government should prioritise established and operational emaSwati-owned companies when awarding contracts under the programme, following the passage of the Development Bank of Southern Africa (National Housing and Infrastructure Programme) Loan Bill of 2026.
Speaking during the Senate sitting chaired by Deputy Senate President Ndumiso Mdluli, the senator questioned what had happened to contractors who were previously entrusted with building houses under a government housing initiative, saying none of those companies appeared to remain traceable.
“Lamagontilaki lebe anikwe lomsebenti wekwakha letindlu taka housing kute nayinye lesekhona,” he claimed, questioning whether the contractors had disappeared because Government failed to pay them or for other reasons.
The senator warned that the approval of the latest loan could attract individuals who would establish companies specifically to compete for the lucrative contracts, despite having no established track record in the construction industry.
He said the contracts should instead benefit existing emaSwati businesses that were known, operational and capable of delivering the projects to the required standards.
“Asifuni labomahamba nendlwana,” Dlamini said, using the expression to describe companies that appear when tenders involving substantial amounts of money become available.
He cited the Sithobelweni road project as an example of what he considered an appropriate approach to awarding construction contracts, expressing appreciation for the way the tender had been allocated to companies he believed would execute the work diligently.
Beyond the awarding of tenders, Dlamini also raised concern about the intended beneficiaries of the housing programme, insisting that the houses built through public borrowing should remain accessible to emaSwati they were meant to assist.
He said it was heartbreaking to see government-built houses being rented out to foreigners instead of benefiting emaSwati, questioning whether the programme’s intended purpose was being fulfilled when this happened.
The senator’s concerns come as Parliament has approved legislation authorising the Minister of Finance, Neal Rijkenberg, to raise a loan of up to E2.4 billion from the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) to finance the National Housing and Infrastructure Programme (NHIP), implemented through the Eswatini Housing Board (EHB).
The loan carries a 15-year repayment period, including a three-year grace period, and is expected to support the construction of different housing options alongside essential infrastructure across the country.
According to the Finance Committee report, the programme is expected to benefit approximately 8 024 emaSwati, comprising 3 024 direct beneficiaries and 5 000 indirect beneficiaries across the country’s four regions. At least 50 per cent of the direct beneficiaries are expected to be women.
The housing options will include apartments, two- and three-bedroom houses, townhouses, rental housing, serviced residential plots and incremental housing solutions. Supporting infrastructure will include roads, water, sanitation, electricity, telecommunications, community facilities and recreational areas.
The programme is also expected to create approximately 3 000 construction jobs, with opportunities for income generation and skills transfer, particularly among young people and local communities.
The Finance Committee recommended that contractors and labour be sourced locally to ensure that a significant share of the economic benefits remains in Eswatini. The Construction Industry Council is also expected to play a role in overseeing construction standards, contractor registration, quality assurance and local content requirements.
Dlamini’s concerns place the spotlight on how the E2.4 billion programme will be implemented, particularly the selection of contractors, the protection of local businesses and whether the houses will ultimately reach the citizens they are intended to benefit.
Discussion about this post