The Eswatini Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise (EWADE) has signed a E1.78 billion contract with GVPR Engineers Limited to construct the Mkhondvo-Ngwavuma Water Augmentation Project (MNWAP) Phase 1B Main Conveyance Pipeline.
The contract, referenced as EWADE/0694, was signed on Monday at the Hilton Garden Inn and includes a 36-month construction timeline. The project involves constructing a 36-kilometer high-grade steel pipeline with diameters ranging from DN2000 to DN1800, designed to transport water from the Mpakeni Dam to irrigation command areas spanning approximately 4,600 hectares.
EWADE Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Samson Sithole said the project is a critical link between bulk water storage and agricultural production in the Sigwe/Maloma, Mconcwane/Mcathuvane, and St. Philips areas.
“This phase marks a major step toward ensuring reliable water delivery to irrigation systems that will anchor food security, stimulate agribusiness, and strengthen climate resilience,” he said.
Although full completion of the Main Conveyance Pipeline is expected in 2029, EWADE confirmed that water delivery will begin earlier through staged commissioning. As individual sections of the pipeline are completed, pressure-tested, and become hydraulically operational, water will flow to parts of the network even as downstream work continues.
“The people will not wait until 2029 to see value,” Dr. Sithole emphasized, noting that progressive water availability will allow farmers and communities to benefit before the project is fully completed.
The pipeline will draw water from the Mpakeni Dam, which is currently under construction as part of MNWAP Phase 1A. As of the end of January 2026, dam construction is at 44 percent and remains on schedule for completion in April 2028.
The MNWAP is designed to deliver irrigation water by gravity, eliminating the need for pumping systems and significantly reducing electricity costs for farmers, which are often the single largest operational expense in irrigation schemes. This gravity-fed design is expected to improve the long-term viability of agricultural enterprises in the targeted areas.
Phase 1B commenced one year later than originally anticipated, following EWADE’s return of the project to tender to ensure full compliance with the African Development Bank (AfDB) ‘s procurement guidelines, which support the broader programme.
GVPR Engineers Limited brings nearly three decades of infrastructure experience in India, with operations spanning water supply systems, highways, and electrical transmission.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, GVPR Chief of Global Business Parkshith Reddy said the company has connected nearly one million homes to water distribution systems and has irrigated over 500,000 hectares of farmland.
“We believe this project is the right size and scope for us to deliver seamlessly. We will leave no stone unturned to ensure quality and on-time delivery,” he said.
Rajeev Singh, Head of Projects at GVPR, who will oversee the execution of the MNWAP Phase 1B works, highlighted the company’s experience with gravity-fed systems, rock excavation, hydro testing, and large-diameter steel pipeline installation, including projects completed under challenging dam-backwater conditions.
EWADE has encouraged GVPR to promote local contractor participation throughout the 36-month construction period. The project is expected to generate jobs, facilitate skills transfer, and stimulate economic activity along the pipeline route.
MNWAP Phase 1B is part of a broader national investment to strengthen Eswatini’s water security, expand irrigated agriculture, and unlock long-term economic growth. “Today, we sign a contract. Tomorrow, we begin building a future,” Dr. Sithole said.