Mbabane: The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) has built a two-room house for a 53-year-old woman, Ntombi Sithole of Phuzumoya in the Lubombo region.
Sithole is part of the beneficiaries that have received two-room houses from NDMA after their structures were damaged by Tropical Cyclone Eloise.
According to NDMA, Sithole lives with her children and grandchildren and they have no means of making a proper living. Since they were struck by the cyclone, the family of 13 has been exposed to harsh weather and extremely dangerous living conditions.
Sithole’s husband died years ago, and he was the only breadwinner. Since the death of her husband, she was left to fend for her children and grandchildren.
Receiving the house, Sithole thanked NDMA for the support. “I am lost for words on how I can thank NDMA for the house because the one we lived under was on the verge of collapsing because of the damage caused by the heavy rains,” she remarked. She indicated that they were even afraid to sleep in the house when there were heavy winds because they did not know if they would survive the night.
Sithole also stated that even if she wanted to fix the house they were living in, she would not have had the means, because the money she makes is for providing food for her big family.
She went on to disclose that she makes a living by selling vegetables on the streets. She sometimes collects firewood for her neighbours, who in turn pay her whatever they have. Sithole said if it were not for NDMA, she was convinced that the house they were living under would have crumbled, and probably injured them by now because Cyclone Eloise dilapidated the house even further.
According to figures from NDMA about 65 houses have been contracted to help the poorest of the poor families. NDMA says its target is to build 200 houses. NDMA has also managed to roof 18 houses which were damaged by Cyclone Eloise.
Currently, the National Disaster Management Agency is reconstructing two-room and one-room houses in all four regions of the country, and completed houses stand at.
| Hhohho | Manzini | Shiselweni | Lubombo | TOTAL | |
| 2 Room new house | 7 | 18 | 10 | 5 | 40 |
| 1 Room new house | 2 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 15 |
| TOTAL | 9 | 22 | 13 | 11 | 55 |
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