Swaziland

The African Water Facility (AWF) has approved a grant of EUR 1.28 million to finance feasibility studies for a multi-purpose dam on a tributary of River Lusushwana in Swaziland. The project will provide drinking water to urban areas, including Mbabane and Manzini, the two major cities of the country. The water stored by the dam will also be used for irrigation and hydro-power generation. The multipurpose dam project is a priority investment for the Swazi Government. The 300.000 inhabitants in the area will benefit from this investment.

“This drought is worse than the one which occurred in 1992!”  says Zwelakhe who leaves in Mbabane, the Capital City of Swaziland. “Now we are faced with water restrictions: we are only supplied every other day and we are still supposed to be in the rainy season!”. The Hawane Dam which supplies Mbabane is nearly empty. The Mbabane-Manzini urban corridor is the main pole of growth of the country, and concentrates a number of developments: the convention center, a new industrial zone, and several housing estates.