Times Of Swaziland: MANZINI ARCH INVESTMENT BRINGING 500 JOBS

MANZINI ARCH INVESTMENT BRINGING 500 JOBS
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Mhlengi Magongo on 10/03/2023 09:12:00


MBABANE – A multi-million Emalangeni investment by Manzini Arch (Pty) Ltd is
expected to bring hundreds of jobs.
An environmental impact assessment report has already been done in a bid to
usher in the project. The exact cost of the investment was yet to be established
at the time of compiling this report. The company behind the project, Manzini
Arch (Pty) Ltd, is a subsidiary of African Alliance. It is proposing to
establish a mixed-use development in Manzini. According to the document for the
proposed project, the vision is to develop a premium mixed-use precinct that is
accessible, uplifting, and beneficial to every citizen of Eswatini.
The site of the project is on Farm 838 in the Manzini Region. It includes the
development of a regional shopping centre, residential apartments; two hotels to
be developed in phases, a private school, two fast food restaurants, commercial
offices, as well as a large park and a recreational area.The project, once it
was established, would play a significant role for the country in meeting the
most economically feasible of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These
include promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth; employment and
decent work for all; as well as sustainable industrialization and fostering
innovation.
The retail and mixed-use sectors include the development of shops, restaurants,
and drive throughs. This part of the proposed project is planned to overlook the
MR3 and the Manzini bypass road for ease of access to customers and to minimise
disturbances to current residential properties, especially during the
operational phase of the project. This will be developed into two phases.
The recreational facilities, on the other hand, will include a park, cycle
tracks, a soccer pitch, and other recreational facilities. These facilities will
not only be available to residents of the development but will also be open to
the public. "The proposed residential component will be adjacent to the existing
Madonsa residences. This is to ensure that the existing land use of the area is
compatible with the proposed development.
"High density housing will be developed in phase one. Phase two and three will
be the development of medium and low density housing, respectively," reads the
report in part. When it comes to workforce, the project will require an
estimated 200 people during construction, varying from unskilled, semi-skilled,
and skilled labour. At the operational phase, the project will result in the
employment of 500 people. As per the norm, interested and affected parties are
requested to submit comments and/or objections in accordance with the
Environmental Audit, Assessment, and Review Regulations 2000. The submissions
are to be directed to the Eswatini Environment Authority in Mbabane.
PROPOSED PROJECT TIMELINES:
Activity
Timeframe
Project  preparations and designs
August 2021-May 2022
Approval processes for Environment Authority, Manzini City
September 2021 – June 2022
Contractor appointment
July 2022
Phase 1 Construction
August 2022 – February 2024
Operation and maintenance
March 2022 onwards
Phase 2 and 3 construction
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