Taiwan doles out E26m to Swazi govt
22/12/2015 03:00:00Stories by Sifiso Nhlabatsi

THE Republic of China on Taiwan has injected support to the value of approximately E26 million to be used in several development projects in the country.

The financial assistance, according to the Republic of China on Taiwan Ambassador Thomas Chen, would go towards seven projects which include the first payment of the construction of fish hatcheries at Maguga, the second payment of the rural electrification scheme and the payment of a project for water supply in rural schools.

The second and final payment of the procurement and installation of office and printing equipment for the production of a diplomatic directory for Swaziland Protocol Office, the first payment of the Junior Achievement Swaziland Youth Entrepreneurship Programme, the first payment of the procurement of computers and printers for the National Fire and Emergency Services and the final payment of the construction of rural schools computer laboratories.

Yesterday, the donation of cheques was for three projects, namely, the fish hatcheries, the rural electrification and the supply of water in rural areas project.

The other four projects’ cheques were delivered before hand on November 19, 2015 bringing up the total donation to US $2 353 339.43, which is approximately E36 million.

‘Do not use electricity
to run shebeens’
PS Betram Stewart said access to electricity has a multiplier effect in that it is an indispensable factor to the attainment of His Majesty King Mswati III’s vision 2022.
Stewart stated that apart from improving the general standard of living, electricity also paves way for other economic livelihood.
He, however, urged people not to misuse electricity toset up shebeens at the rural areas and sell alcohol.
Worth noting is that it is a norm for people who have access to electricity in the rural areas to open illegal drinking spots selling the alcoholic beverages which usually have negative impacts such as violence, theft and other forms of mischief committed by drunk people.

Fish hatcheries to be constructed at Maguga

WITH the drought having devastating effects on agriculture, making the land barren and yielding no crops most families living closer to main rivers have opted for fishing as their source of food.
The government of Taiwan has donated USD 89 000 (about E1.4 million) towards the construction of a fish hatchery along the Nkomazi River, at Maguga.
Economic Planning Ministry Principal Secretary Bertram Stewart, who represented Minister prince Hlangusemphi, welcomed the project stating that it would enhance fish cultivation. He further stated that Swaziland being a landlocked country was currently importing almost all fish products and having a hatchery has the potential to motivate fresh water fish farming.
Ambassador Thomas Chen, in his presentation speech during the donation, stated that the project would increase the contribution of fisheries and aquaculture to food and nutrition security, thus meet the country’s goal of poverty alleviation and hunger eradication and boost sustainable economic growth for livelihoods of surrounding areas.
Minister of Agriculture Moses Vilakati stated that such a project would go a long way in ensuring that that there is sustainability in the development of agriculture.
Vilakati stated that fisheries played an important role in food and nutrition in the country. “Fish farming becomes the only plausible fisheries activity. More so fish stock have been overfished in almost all water bodies in the world,” Vilakati said.
The minister stated that the lack of baby fish was like the lack of seed for any crop.
The hatchery will also come with job opportunities for a lot of Swazis.
He stated that trainees were already out there studying in several universities and one such was about to complete her studies on aquaculture at a master’s level.

2 700 households to have electricity by March 2016

THE rural electrification project which started back in 2011 is aimed at enabling the Swazi nation to reach an access rate of 70% when it comes to electricity.
The project, which comprises of 18 electricity schemes, has a total of 2 757 households that will be connected to the national electricity grid by March 2016.
support
Ministry of Economic Planning and Development Principal Secretary Bertram Stewart thanked the Government of R.O.C (Taiwan) for the support, stating that rural electrification is a fundamental project in society as 74% of the population resides in the rural areas and such projects have made it possible for rural establishments such as homes, clinics and schools to access electricity over the years.

Taiwan govt brings water to 34 schools

WITH drought affecting most parts of the country, schools have been left without water supply.
In a bid to alleviate this scourge the Republic of China on Taiwan donated approximately E4.9 million to be used in construction of water supply systems in 34 selected schools by drilling 40 boreholes and installing pumps in rural schools around the four regions of the country.
Ambassador Chen stated that the Swazi government would be responsible for the procurement of water tanks.
Chen emphasised that water is not a privilege but a necessity that every pupil and school must have access to.
suffering
The ambassador stated that he hopes the provision of clean water to school will bring “much needed relief from the pain and suffering caused by the periodic drought that our Swazi brothers and sisters are faced with annually.”
Minister of Education Dr Phineas Magagula, in receiving the donation said, “this kind of support has come at a very opportune time when the region in general and the country in particular is struggling to provide portable water to its citizens due to the protracted drought conditions exacerbated by the El Nino phenomenon”.
Magagula stated that the ministry was having a challenge of providing water not only for rural schools but also for urban ones thus the need for alternative sources of water rather than tanker services.
The project will be completed within the last quarter of the financial year 2015/16 because the contractors are already on site carrying out works.