Manzini – The Eswatini Electricity Company and MOTRACO have donated more than 1,200 pairs of shoes valued at E490,000 to schools located along the MOTRACO 400 kilovolt transmission line, with the handover taking place on April 10, 2026, at the EEC Learning and Conference Centre in Manzini.
MOTRACO General Manager Aderito Sousa said the donation was aimed at supporting school-going children and strengthening relations with communities living near the transmission line, which runs from South Africa through Eswatini to Mozambique. He also took the opportunity to appeal to those communities to protect the power infrastructure, warning that any vandalism of the transmission line would disrupt electricity supply across all three countries involved in the MOTRACO joint venture.
Minister of Education and Training Owen Nxumalo, who was present at the ceremony, thanked EEC and MOTRACO for the donation and called on teachers and the Members of Parliament in attendance to ensure the shoes reached their intended beneficiaries in line with the lists submitted to EEC. The MPs present included Nathie Mdockies Hlophe of Mtfongwaneni, Sifiso Haiso Shabalala of Dvokodweni, Sabelo Mtsetfwa of Mafutseni, Bhekibandla Vilakati of Ngwempisi, and Manzi Zwane of Nhlambeni. The Minister also assured EEC of continued government support in the implementation of developmental projects. 
EEC Managing Director Ernest Sipho Mkhonta welcomed the initiative, noting that it addressed a challenge that often goes unnoticed. He said many pupils walk long distances to school without proper footwear, exposing them to injuries, infections and discomfort, all of which affect their confidence, dignity and attendance. Mkhonta added that the donation aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4 on Quality Education and SDG 10 on Reduced Inequalities.
Speaking on behalf of the benefiting constituencies, Mafutseni MP Sabelo Mtsetfwa thanked EEC and MOTRACO for extending the gesture to schools in their areas. He also used the occasion to invite EEC to consider building a substation in Mafutseni Inkhundla, saying land for the project was already available.
A representative of the benefiting schools, Mr Dlamini of Mafutseni Nazarene Primary School, expressed appreciation on behalf of the schools and wished EEC continued success in its operations.
