MATSANJENI NORTH & MAFUTSENI – A government committee under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy is exploring solar power as a cost-saving solution for rural water supply schemes in Eswatini.
The Select Committee on Rural Electrification (SCORE), led by the Ministry’s Principal Secretary, visited two major water supply projects this week—the Ndabeni Water Supply Project in Mafutseni Constituency and the Sihlanjeni Water Supply Project in Matsanjeni North.
The purpose of the visits was to assess the current infrastructure and gather operational data needed to submit a proposal to the Rural Electrification Access Fund. If approved, the fund will support the replacement of electricity-powered pumps with solar systems. 
Currently, residents in the two communities must purchase electricity units to access water. The proposed solar upgrade would supply clean water to 76 homesteads in Ndabeni and 260 homesteads in Maphungwane, easing financial burdens on families and improving access to a basic need.
