MBABANE: Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla has handed over six houses to vulnerable families in Mpolonjeni, Nkilongo and Lubulini constituencies.
The handover ceremony was marked by tears, songs and emotional reactions from beneficiaries who had lived for years in overcrowded or unsafe structures.
The first house was handed over to Ngeti Bhembe and her siblings in the Shoba community under Mpolonjeni Inkhundla. 
📸 Photo: Eswatini Government
The family is a child headed household and had been living together in a single room, with boys and girls sharing the limited space.
Dladla assured the family that the new house would be fenced to improve the safety of the children.
At Mbutfu in Lubulini Inkhundla, a two room house was handed over to 31 year old Banele Mamba, a mother of five.
Mamba and her children had been living in a leaking one room structure covered with tents.
📸 Photo: Eswatini Government
The Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force reported the family’s situation and provided construction workers after government supplied the building materials.
The UEDF also assisted Lomathemba from Ngcamphalala community under Nkilongo Inkhundla, who had been allocated new land on which to build her home.
At Gamula in Nkilongo Inkhundla, 85 year old Gogo Dzeliwe Gumedze received a new house after part of her stick and mud dwelling collapsed.
Gumedze said she had sometimes slept under a tree because she feared remaining in the old structure, which was also infested with snakes.
She expressed relief that she would now be able to sleep safely indoors.
Two more houses were handed over at Lunkuntfu in Nkilongo Inkhundla.
One went to 81 year old Gogo Regina Mzileni, while the other was given to Njabulo Mamba and his siblings, who had been left caring for a newborn baby after the death of their parents.
📸 Photo: Eswatini Government
Funding and support
Dladla said five of the six houses were funded by the Republic of China on Taiwan.
Gumedze’s house was funded by MTN Eswatini and government through the National Disaster Risk Management Authority, also known as Umvalo Wesive.
The Deputy Prime Minister said the beneficiaries could not be evicted from the homes, which were opened on behalf of His Majesty King Mswati III.
📸 Photo: Eswatini Government
She also announced that all child headed households would receive life skills training to help them manage their families and become more self sufficient.
The families received beds, wardrobes and benches donated by Montigny Company.
Dladla also gave the beneficiaries food parcels during the handover.
