UNAVAILABILITY OF SEWER FRUSTRATES LAND OWNERS

MBABANE – The non-construction of a sewer has resulted in about 100 plot owners waiting over three years to develop their land at Tubungu, Extension 4.
A sewer is an underground pipe or tunnel system for transporting sewage from houses and commercial buildings to treatment facilities or for disposal.

A majority of the plot owners bought the land back in 2017 when it was advertised, with 1 000 square metre land going for E250 000. At the time, the Tubungu Estate wanted to develop Extension 4 by tarring the road, availing electricity and supplying water, among other things.

However, having bought the land, the plot owners were advised by the Matsapha Town Council (MTC) not to develop their plots because there was no sewer. Tubungu Estate agents, Sun Star Properties General Manager Mlamuli Maseko confirmed that the plot owners were frustrated in that they could not build structures or develop their land because of the sewer issue.

Stakeholders

He said the issue revolved around the stakeholders involved, being Eswatini Environmental Authority, Eswatini Water Services Corporation (EWSC), the Matsapha Town Council and the developer. He said one of the stakeholders was failing to take responsibility in the matter and the blame was shifted from one stakeholder to the other.

Maseko said before an area was developed, the developer makes a proposal which is approved or declined by the stakeholders. So when the developer made the proposal for Extension 4, there was a provision that there should be a sewer system.

“The developer did its part, availing water and electricity and tarred the road and also piped the whole area in preparation for the sewer that was supposed to be constructed by one of the other stakeholders, because a sewer is a public infrastructure that is supposed to be owned by the government, not the developer,” he submitted.

He said the clash was caused by the fact that a private developer could not construct a public sewer because even the sewer charge was not administered by the developer but it was under the control of EWSC.

“The delay in developing the land by its owners has been caused by failure from one of the stakeholders to own up and construct the sewer and the plot owners are always calling the agent to inquire on this matter because they want to develop their land,” he said.

Maseko said what frustrated the land owners more was the fact that they were made to pay rates yet they were not developing or building structures on their land.

One of the plot owners, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said she eventually lost hope and gave up on developing the land because MTC kept on postponing the approval of developing the land, citing different things which include that the developer should complete tarring the road, which they have done.
“I haven’t been following the developments there because I gave up on developing my plot due to the issues with the stakeholders. As far as the rates are concerned, it’s been a long time since I checked if I owed them,” she submitted.

Approve

MTC Public Relations Officer Babhekile Dlamini said they could not approve any construction as MTC because there was no adequate or required infrastructure such as a sewer system, to develop phase 4 of Tubungu.
On the issue of paying rates, Dlamini said rates were collected because the property was within urban boundaries and according to the Rating Act of 1995 Section 4-9, rates were to be collected unless exempted.

“Rates are triggered by owning a property which has value as per the valuation roll. Building permits are required terms of services among other things which is why approval from utility companies is required,” Dlamini said.

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