Eswatini and Mozambique have commenced construction of the Lomahasha/Namaacha Cross Border Potable Water Supply Project in a significant step towards deeper regional cooperation and sustainable development.
Funded by a €16 million (about US$17.4 million) grant from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Water Fund, the project is a collaborative effort between the two nations, the Development Bank of Southern Africa and the German government via KfW Development Bank.
The project aims to address the critical water shortages faced by the border towns of Lomahasha in Eswatini and Namaacha in Mozambique, which have been exacerbated by climate change.
By drawing water from the shared Mbuluzi river, the initiative is expected to establish essential infrastructure such as pipelines, reservoirs and water-pumping stations to provide over 40,000 residents with reliable access to potable water.
This transboundary water supply project aligns with the SADC Infrastructure Development Master Plan, which seeks to enhance regional integration and economic development through shared infrastructure.
Th ceremony was attended by Eswatini Water Services Corporation managing director Jabulile Mashwama, a representative of the Ministry of Water Supply and Sanitation of Mozambique, SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi, DBSA head of infrastructure division Chuene Ramphele and Michael Feiner, chargé d’affaires at the German embassy in Mozambique.
Magosi hailed the launch of the project, saying it demonstrated the commitment the two countries and development partners “to uplift the living standards of the people by continuing to prioritise projects that contribute significantly to regional integration and development, including transboundary water cooperation in the management and joint development and utilisation of their shared water resources.”
He said the project is also aligned to the region’s strategic direction espoused in the SADC Vision 2050 and other plans, which recognise the importance of infrastructure in regional development and market integration.
JN/APA