Mbabane – Residents of four Shiselweni communities who are cut off from essential services during the rainy season could benefit from two proposed low-level crossings by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, in a move aimed at improving access to schools, healthcare facilities and economic opportunities.
The proposed crossings will serve Ndushulweni and Ngudzeni, as well as Mbulungwane and Mhlosheni, where heavy rains disrupt movement and force residents to use lengthy alternative routes to reach essential services.
The Ministry has assessed the situation in both communities and proposed the crossings in response to concerns raised by residents who struggle to maintain access to essential facilities when their usual routes become impassable.
At Ndushulweni, in Ngudzeni, the proposed crossing will connect Ndushulweni and Ngudzeni, improving access to the Ndushulweni umphakatsi and inkhundla, Ngudzeni FEA Primary School and Ngudzeni FEA High School.
The project will be undertaken by Narrow-Path Construction.
Residents in the affected area have had to rely on lengthy alternative routes to reach these facilities during periods of heavy rainfall. This creates additional difficulties for learners travelling to school and families seeking access to services within their communities.
The proposed crossing is expected to ease these challenges by providing a more dependable connection between the two communities, reducing the need for lengthy detours when the rainy season disrupts movement.
It will also improve access to the Ndushulweni umphakatsi and inkhundla, which serve as important centres for community gatherings, engagement with local leadership and local administrative services.
Meanwhile, the second crossing will be constructed at Mabhudlweni by MAK-Works Civil Construction, connecting Mbulungwane and Mhlosheni.
The crossing is expected to improve access to Franson Primary School and Franson Clinic, helping residents reach essential education and healthcare services more easily when heavy rains affect travel.
The route also serves agricultural activities, making dependable access important for farmers and other community members who rely on it for their daily movements and livelihoods.
For learners, the proposed infrastructure could ease the difficulties associated with travelling to school during the rainy season. For patients, improved connectivity to Franson Clinic could help reduce the challenges of reaching healthcare services when weather conditions disrupt the usual route.
Beyond access to social services, the two projects are expected to support the movement of agricultural produce and other goods, helping reduce disruptions to economic activity in the affected communities.
The Ministry said the proposed crossings were intended to improve access throughout the seasons, strengthen connectivity and ensure that economic activities were not disrupted by a lack of dependable access.
However, the information provided does not specify the construction commencement dates, expected completion dates or the costs of the two projects.
For the affected communities, the proposed crossings offer the prospect of more reliable access to schools, healthcare facilities, local administrative centres and economic opportunities, particularly during the rainy season.
The projects are intended to address a persistent challenge for residents who depend on these routes, with the ultimate goal of ensuring that seasonal rainfall does not leave communities struggling to reach essential services.
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