Slight Adjustments on City Road Rehabilitation Timelines
…recent heavy rains have negatively impacted initially set turnround times
The Municipal Council of Manzini notifies motorists, the general members of the public and all other stakeholders that the timelines that had initially been set for reopening of various road portions within the city have had to be adjusted forward. This comes as a result of the recent heavy rainfall in the city. The rains have rendered it impossible to proceed with road rehabilitation works as planned. It is worth-mentioning that the requirement is that for good workmanship to be achieved, the road sub-soils must be completely dry before construction works can proceed. As a result of the aforementioned, the portion of Tenbergen Street, from the Zakhele Remand Centre traffic lights to just before the Satellite Bus Rank, will now possibly be fully rehabilitated and reopened to traffic at the end of next week. In the meantime we shall endeavour to improve on the traffic accommodation plan in order to mitigate the traffic jam that obtains during peak hours. This we shall do in collaboration with traffic police.
We request for patience from motorists. We also implore them to adhere to the temporary traffic signs that have been put up along the Dr. David Hynd Road. The timeline adjustment also applies to the other affected roads; these being Meintjies Street, portions of Mahleka, Martin and Masalesikhundleni streets. The Municipality extends its sincere apologies for any inconvenience that may be caused by this timeline adjustment. Motorists are encouraged to, as much as possible, consider alternative routes to their destinations.
…MUNICIPALITY PARTNERS WITH YERF, SEDCO, BRINGS YOUTH TOGETHER FOR GEW CELEBRATION
The City of Manzini last week Friday brought the youth of Manzini together and joined the world in celebrating Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW). The youth roundtable discussion was driven by the Municipal Council of Manzini in partnership with the Youth Enterprise Fund (YERF) and Small Enterprise Development Company (SEDCO). Global Entrepreneurship Week is a concept that is designed to encourage potential entrepreneurs, particularly young people, to start their own businesses. It seeks to highlight the positive impact that entrepreneurs can have; largely in terms of innovation and sustainable development. Worth-noting is that the youth is a key demographic that is identified for economic development under the Municipality’s 2019-2024 Integrated Development Plan hence it always strives to create linkages with other stakeholders who are working towards a common goal. From the roundtable discussions, there is a clear indication that the youth is eager to take up entrepreneurship. A question was posed to the youth as to how best to engage and make the processes of access to finance and business incubation relevant to them. In response, they highlighted how some of the requirements to business finance were a reflection of limitations resulting from generational gap. “For example, a finance application for a high-end camera for YouTube or tik tok will not generate appetite to the financier; thereby instantly leaving content creators with no means of finance for their projects. Also; the requirement of proof of market availability is a difficult one,” one of the participants said.
Some solutions were found during discussions. For example, representatives of the I Am An African foundation shared that their work as a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) was in research; focusing on value chains and gaps where the youth could find space to do business. The Youth Chamber of Commerce Eswatini also shared that their objective was to be the voice of youth in business. It was mentioned that the Chamber provided a platform for a unified voice for the youth and that it had already established relations with policy-making structures and was currently building networks in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. There was also agreement that these conversations would be held at least on a quarterly basis. More youths of Manzini are encouraged to participate in such initiatives. The Municipal Council of Manzini may be contacted for more information.
…NOTICE TO MOTORISTS: MANZINI CENTRAL GALP FILLING STATION TRAFFIC LIGHTS NOW OPERATIONAL
Motorists are notified that the traffic lights near the Galp Filling Station below Manzini Central High School are now operational. The Municipality has taken a decision to operationalize the traffic lights owing to the heavy vehicular volumes that presently obtains on that intersection as a result of the diversion of traffic, largely public transport, from Meintjies Street (which is currently under rehabilitation). Motorists are urged to observe the traffic lights in order to avoid the occurrence of accidents.
