By Sizwe Dlamini
The country has taken a significant step to address the growing need for road repairs and maintenance. The Minister of Finance, Neal Rijkenberg revealed during last week’s budget speech that the country will soon establish a Private Road Agency Fund. The Minister stated that to establish the Fund, government proposes a fuel price increase of 40 cents per litre.
Rijkenberg explained that the fuel price increase would be effective March 2025.
“At the moment, our fuel price is the lowest by E2 in the entire region, but to address our infrastructure challenges, we are introducing this 40-cent increase,” he said.
The government’s focus on road maintenance is driven by the pressing need for upgrades and rehabilitation of key roads such as the Siphofaneni to Nsoko and Siphambanweni route.
The Minister further emphasized that the government has allocated E1.21 billion for road development, with provisions for major maintenance and rehabilitation projects.
“For 2025, the government has made a provision of E371.67 million for road maintenance and major rehabilitation,” he stated. The budget also includes E636.12 million for new road construction, as well as E200 million for the surfacing of rural roads, with an additional E30 million earmarked for micro-projects in rural areas.
As part of the long-term vision for the kingdom’s infrastructure, the government intends to set up a private contractor to oversee the Road Maintenance Fund. This company will be responsible for managing road repairs and ensuring consistent maintenance to preserve the quality of roads across Eswatini.
“Toll fees at the borders or charges for vehicles coming in will also contribute to the Fund, allowing us to get started and maintain our roads effectively,” Minister Rijkenberg added.
While acknowledging that the fuel price increase would directly impact consumers, the Minister stressed that this is a necessary step to ensure better roads and lower costs in the long term.
“It’s cheaper to pay the 40 cents increase to fuel rather than to pay for car repairs when your vehicle is damaged by driving over potholes,” he explained.