SITHOBELWENI: Life is literally a struggle for residents of Sithobelweni within the territory of the historical Mamba Kingdom within eSwatini.
The Mamba Kingdom is situated in the South-Eastern parts of eSwatini, its communities include Lavundlamanti, Sitsengetsengeni, Sithobela, Majubeni, Mvovo, Maloma, Sigwe, eLulakeni, Siphambanweni and Ngudzeni among others.
It has been disclosed that various roads leading to areas within the Mamba Kingdom have potholes after the Government demonstrated reluctance in developing the areas despite that King Mswati loots mineral resources at Maloma Mine.
Reached for comments,Thabo Dlamini, the Chairperson of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) Sithobelweni Branch confirmed that the Mamba Kingdom was struggling with poor roads and other infrastructure.
An infrastructure is the basic physical and organizational structures and facilities that include roads, power supply needed for the development of industries, it enhances or improves the quality of life for citizens.
“It’s true that the areas under the Mamba Kingdom are struggling with poor roads and other infrastructure that can improve the lives of the people. The road from Sphofaneni to Sithobelweni is literally in a very terrible situation, as the rains continue it’s difficult to drive in that road. It takes about two(2) to three(3) hours to drive from Siphofaneni to Sithobelweni”, said the PUDEMO Sithobelweni Branch Chairperson.
A questionnaire was sent to Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe, the Minister of Public Works and Transport under Mswati’s Government,however, he had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
On Thursday, Executive members of the newly formed Eswatini Kombis and Allied Workers Union(EKABAU) delivered a petition to Parliament demanding among others, the maintenance of roads.
Eswatini is a tiny Kingdom situated in Southern Africa with about 70% of the population living below the poverty line, most areas in the country are struggling with poverty after the Government\'s failure to fulfil social obligations.
Speaking to this Swaziland News on Thursday, highly regarded human rights lawyer Sibusiso said Government was violating the socio-economic rights of the citizens under the Mamba Kingdom by neglecting to maintain roads and providing other services.
“The Government is violating the citizens’ socio-economic rights by neglecting the road and other services. In fact the failure to provide these services to the people violates human rights because in the event a person is rushed to hospital, that sickly person might die along the road while trying to access medical care. This means the right to life of that particular person will be violated by the failure by the Government to maintain roads”, said the human rights lawyer.
King Mswati, a multi-billionaire absolute Monarch continues to loot mineral resources at Maloma Coal Mine under the Mamba Kingdom but has failed to improve the lives of the people.
Mamba Kingdom roads are in a very bad situation.