Uncontrolled construction along new rural roads in Eswatini could lead to poorly planned settlements and costly infrastructure problems, Housing Minister Apollo Maphalala has warned. Speaking at the second Eswatini Urban Forum at Ezulwini Palazzo, Maphalala said urbanisation in Eswatini was increasingly driven by rural communities developing into urban areas rather than people moving from rural areas to established towns.
Major government investments in roads, including the MR14 and MR21 projects, were encouraging settlement expansion along transport corridors without adequate planning, Maphalala said. He warned that building major roads without a comprehensive National Spatial Planning Framework could result in disorganised settlements that would make it difficult and expensive to provide essential infrastructure, particularly sewerage systems.
Consultations with traditional leaders in the Lubombo and Manzini regions had revealed strong demand for administrative support to establish formal spatial planning frameworks, Maphalala said. He noted that without structured systems for allocating land at community level, traditional land availability and local governance arrangements could be undermined.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development was working with the World Bank on an urbanisation review to help guide national investment and development, Maphalala said. The review aimed to provide a framework for sustainable urban development and address the challenges posed by rapid urbanisation.
Maphalala urged rural and urban stakeholders to work together on planning solutions to prevent uncoordinated development from spreading across the country. He emphasised the need for a collaborative approach to ensure that development was sustainable and equitable.
The second Eswatini Urban Forum brought together various stakeholders, including government officials, traditional leaders, and representatives from international organisations. The forum provided a platform for discussing the challenges and opportunities presented by urbanisation in Eswatini.
The issue of unplanned rural building was a pressing concern in Eswatini, with the country's population projected to continue growing in the coming years. Effective planning and management of urban development would be crucial in addressing the social, economic, and environmental challenges associated with rapid urbanisation.
Key points
- Uncontrolled construction along new rural roads in Eswatini could lead to poorly planned settlements and costly infrastructure problems.
- The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is working with the World Bank on an urbanisation review to guide national investment and development.
- Stakeholders are urged to collaborate on planning solutions to prevent uncoordinated development.
