Cape Town – His Majesty King Mswati III has urged international investors, development partners, and financial institutions to support multi-billion-emalangeni water initiatives in Eswatini. The announcement came during the African Union-AIP Africa Water Investment Summit in Cape Town, South Africa.
The King singled out two priority projects: the Nondvo Multipurpose Dam and the planned raising of the Hawane Dam, estimated to cost around US$115 million (E2.1 billion). He also noted that Eswatini’s National Potable Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Master Plan requires an additional US$2 billion (E38 billion) in funding.
King Mswati described water as essential for the country’s development, fueling agriculture—which uses over 90% of water resources—supporting industry, safeguarding public health, and building climate resilience. He acknowledged challenges posed by aging infrastructure, rising water demand, and climate change.
The King endorsed the Continental Africa Water Investment Programme (AIP), which seeks to mobilise US$30 billion (E570 billion) annually to close Africa’s water investment gap. He said the initiative aligns with Eswatini’s national development plan, climate adaptation priorities, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6, which aims for universal access to clean water and sanitation by 2030.
Eswatini is already advancing its water infrastructure through dam construction and partnerships with financial institutions to boost agriculture and water projects, but the King stressed that external support is crucial to meet the nation’s funding needs.
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