ETIYENI: Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe, the Minister of Public Works and Transport avoided questions from journalists as a R1.6billion Probase Project falls apart.
The project meant to rehabilitate and stabilise 200km of gravel roads across the country is managed by Probase Swaziland (Pty) (Ltd), a royalty linked company with Malaysian origins.
It has been disclosed that part of the road includes a 14.5 km stretch from LaMgabhi Etiyeni to Mbabane via Ghobolo, whose culvert bridge collapsed three (3)times since 2020.
Speaking to this Swaziland News on Friday, Richard Maseko, the Hhukwini Constituency Development Officer blamed the company for engaging incompetent engineers.
"By the look of things the whole road will end up being washed away. It’s clear that the company is engaging unqualified or incompetent engineers. We would like to appeal to Government to at least engage a reputable contractor to fix the bridge as this one has failed for the third time", he said.
Efforts to reach Probase Swaziland Management proved futile and Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe, the Minister of Public Works and Transport had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
A resident of the area who spoke to this publication said the bridge has been collapsing every summer since the probase road was constructed in 2020.
“Each time the bridge collapses we are forced to take an alternative slippery road which makes it difficult for us to travel to town and work,”said the resident.
Reached for comments, Thandaza Silolo, the Spokesperson of the Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO) said this project was solely meant to loot public funds.
“You will remember that this probase idea came from royalty after learning about it from overseas. So this was solely meant to loot our taxes by constructing substandard roads in the pretext of upgrading gravel roads, the results are now showing. Since this Government is failing to serve the people, surely this is the right time for a democratic Government to take over,”said the SWALIMO Spokesperson.
Public Works Minister avoids questions as R1.6 billion Probase Project falls apart.