Mbabane- The rural community of Malibeni is beginning to see the tangible benefits of long-awaited infrastructure upgrades, as the construction of a low-level bridge and road improvements nears completion.
The Malibeni low-level crossing and its adjoining box culvert have reached 80 percent completion, marking a significant milestone in the effort to improve connectivity and safety for residents. The project includes reinforced concrete works, axial supports, and the installation of a new box culvert, with current activities focused on final surfacing, drainage connections, and installing safety features such as guardrails and road signage.
“This is more than just a bridge. It’s a lifeline for students, patients, and farmers,” said a local official overseeing the project. “Once complete, this structure will ensure that people can safely cross, even during heavy rains when flooding used to cut off entire sections of the road.”
Parallel to the bridge works, regravelling is underway on a 7.5-kilometre stretch of road connecting Malibeni–Kwandosi to Mangwaneni Clinic. More than 50 percent of this work has already been completed, with gravel laid and compacted along key segments and subgrade stabilization in progress to ensure long-term durability.
The improvements are expected to benefit several key institutions along the route. These include Malibeni High School, Nhlanguyavuka Primary School, and Malibeni Clinic, which all lie along the bridge corridor. On the regravelled stretch, Mangwaneni Clinic will also see improved access, especially during the rainy season when the route previously became impassable.
Residents, who have long struggled with poor road conditions and seasonal isolation, have welcomed the development.
“I used to worry about my children crossing the river on their way to school,” said Gcinile Maseko, a mother of three and resident of Malibeni. “Now I know they’ll be safer, and ambulances can reach the clinic without delays.”
Discussion about this post