HONOURABLE MINISTER’S SPEECH FOR THE HANDING OVER OF THE MALANGENI WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION PROJECT AT MBETSAMANDLA PRIMARY SCHOOL UNDER THE NGWEMPISI INKHUNDLA IN THE MANZINI REGION ON 29th NOVEMBER2012.
- PROGRAMME DIRECTOR
- BANTFWABENKHOSI
- BOBABE BOCHIEF
- HONOURABLE MINISTER(S) PRESENT HERE
- REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR
- HONOURABLE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE MEMBERS OF BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT
- HONOURABLE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR THE NGWEMPISI INKHUNDLA
- DIRECTOR OF WORLD VISION SWAZILAND
- MANAGING DIRECTOR OF SWAZILAND BEVERAGES
- PRINCIPAL SECRETARIES PRESENT HERE
- INDVUNA YENKHUNDLA
- WATER AND SANITATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS
- MEMBERS OF MEDIA HOUSES
- LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
IT IS A GREAT PLEASURE AND HONOUR FOR ME TO HAVE BEEN INVITED TO THIS AUSPICIOUS OCCASION OF
OFFICIALLY HANDING OVER THE MALANGENI WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION SCHEME TO THIS COMMUNITY.
THE PROVISION OF CLEAN AND SAFE WATER TO THE CITIZENS OF THE COUNTRY IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE TO HIS MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT.
GOVERNMENT IS CURRENTLY FACED WITH SERIOUS FINANCIAL CHALLENGES, HOWEVER COOPERATING PARTNERS LIKE WORLD VISION SWAZILAND, SWAZILAND BEVERAGES AND OTHERS HAVE ALWAYS COME TO GOVERNMENT’S ASSISTANCE IN HER ENDEAVOUR TO PROVIDE POTABLE WATER AND SANITATION FACILITIES TO RURAL COMMUNITIES.HIS MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT WELCOMES SUCH ASSISTANCE WITH OPEN ARMS AS THIS WILL ENSURE THAT THE HEALTH AND HYGIENE STATUS OF RURAL COMMUNITIES IN THE COUNTRY IS IMPROVED.
MY MINISTRY IS TASKED WITH THE REPONSIBILITY TO MEET NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL GOALS FOR THE PROVISION OF WATER AND SANITATION TO BOTH RURAL AND URBAN COMMUNITIES IN THE COUNTRY.
THESE GOALS CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED WITH THE ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT FROM COOPERATING PARTNERS SUCH AS NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS (NGOs) LIKE WORLD VISION SWAZILAND AND SWAZILAND BEVERAGES WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED FINANCIALLY TO THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT. THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH ALSO CONTRIBUTED IMMENSELY ESPECIALLY TOWARDS PROVISION OF THE SANITATION FACILITIES. THIS IS HIGHLY APPRECIATED BECAUSE CLEAN WATER AND PROPER SANITATION FACILITIES GO A LONG WAY TOGETHER IN IMPROVING PUBLIC HEALTH AND HYGIENE IN THE COMMUNITIES AS THE SANITATION COVERAGE IN THIS COMMUNITY IS 98%. MY MINISTRY IS VERY THANKFUL FOR THIS.
I AM RELIABLY INFORMED THAT THIS PROJECT COST ABOUT ONE AND HALF MILLION EMALANGENI (E 1,500,000). HIS MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT AND THE NATION AT LARGE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THIS FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION FROM WORLD VISION SWAZILAND AND SWAZILAND BEVERAGES.
WITH REGARD TO THE PROVISION OF POTABLE WATER THE MINISTRY USES THREE (3) TYPES OF SOURCES, NAMELY;
BOREHOLES (GROUNDWATER), PROTECTED SPRINGS AND MOUNTAIN STREAMS. THIS COMMUNITY IS VERY LUCKY THAT IT WILL BE USING WATER SUPPLY FROM THE KHALANYONI MOUNTAIN STREAM WHCH HAS A VERY HIGH FLOW. THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE WATER WILL BE THROUGH GRAVITY AND THIS IMPLIES THAT THEY WILL NOT HAVE TO BEAR PUMPING COSTS.
IT IS VERY ENCOURAGING TO NOTE THAT THE COMMUNITY ALREADY HAS AN OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE FUND OF ABOUT SEVEN THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED EMALANGENI (E 7,600). THIS MEANS THAT FUNDS WILL ALWAYS BE AVAILABLE TO CATER FOR MINOR REPAIRS TO THE WATER SUPPLY SCHEME DURING ITS OPERATION. THE COMMUNITY IS URGED TO CONTINUE CONTRIBUTING WHENEVER REQUESTED BY THE WATER COMMITTEE.
THIS WATER SUPPLY SCHEME WILL SERVE ABOUT ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED (1,500) PEOPLE.
AT THIS JUNCTURE, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE MALANGENI COMMUNITY FOR PARTICIPATING FULLY TOWARDS THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS SCHEME AND THEIR
CONTINUING CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE FUND WHICH NOW STANDS AT ABOUT SEVEN THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED EMALANGENI (E 7,600). I THEREFORE HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THEY WILL LOOK WELL AFTER THIS SCHEME SO THAT IT CAN SERVE EVEN FUTURE GENERATIONS.
MAY I ALSO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK ALL THE PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATED IN TODAY’S EVENT AND ALL THOSE WHO WERE INVOLVED IN ITS PREPARATIONS.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST BOBABE BOCHIEF, COMMUNITY LEADERS AND THE INKHUNDLA OFFICIALS TO ENCOURAGE THE COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN THE OPERATION, MAINTENANCE AND MANAGEMENT OF THE SCHEME.
WITH THESE FEW REMARKS, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE MALANGENI POTABLE WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION SCHEME IS HEREBY OFFICIALLY OPENED.
MAY GOD BLESS US ALL.