By By Bahle Gama
The Eswatini Housing Board (EHB) is expected to spend an estimated E48 million on infrastructure development in Ngwenya Town. EHB’s Managing Director Mduduzi Dlamini told the Eswatini Financial Times that this development will involve the establishment of a fully serviced township that will have all the basic amenities including surfaced roads, water reticulation, stormwater drainage, sewer, streetlights, and electrical infrastructure.
Dlamini said the estates would be built on 65 plots measuring 5,969 hectares which were donated by the government through the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.
“The initial layout has 65 plots and the estimated cost for infrastructure construction is E16 Million, an additional estimated E32 million will be required to construct houses since the intention is to sell plot and house packages,” he said.
In response to what made EHB choose Ngwenya, the CEO said it is the principal gateway into Eswatini from South Africa and other countries within the Southern African SADC region.
Dlamini went on to say that EHB was spearheading the growth of this urban area by providing the infrastructure and housing to support anticipated future economic growth. “In addition, there is significant Industrial activity in the area, and the scheduled reopening of Ngwenya Iron Ore mine provides further incentive for the proposed town,” he said.
According to the MD, the infrastructure construction is projected to take 24-36 months.
EHB already owns vacant land in Ngwenya and has an existing development, which is Mabuya Township.
In terms of projects in EHB’s pipeline, the MD said there were none which are planned in the short term, however, in the medium to long term, “there are plans to build cluster houses for sectional title disposal and to secure land in other towns or regions to widen the Board’s footprint outside of the Mbabane/Manzini corridor.”
