E12M SOMHLOLO HEADACHE

MBABANE – Just three weeks post-budget speech, the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs faces pressure to resolve funding issues for its essential capital project.

This situation came to light during Parliament’s debate regarding the ministry’s budget allocation held by the House of Assembly just two days ago.

It appears that not everything is favourable regarding government’s budget speech delivered on Valentine’s Day, which outlined the 2025/26 financial provisions, as presented by the Minister for Finance, Neil Rijkenberg.

Minister Bongani Nzima disclosed a shortfall of E12 million necessary to complete renovations at the 56-year-old Somhlolo National Stadium in Lobamba.

“The truth is, the minister and ministry requested E32 million, but we were able to only secure E20 million. We are still in negotiations with the construction company to reduce costs and complete the project, as this matter concerning Somhlolo remains a thorn in our side,” the Sandleni Member of Parliament (MP) remarked to the August House, this past Tuesday.

Furthermore, the minister acknowledged the financial strain facing local football clubs and the national team, Sihlangu, which are compelled to play home matches outside the country due to the stadium’s inability to meet the international minimum standards required.

Nzima pointed out that this situation results in the teams losing their home crowd advantage.
It is worth noting that the ministry revealed late last year that the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) has spent a minimum of E10 million since 2022 on hosting home games outside the nation’s borders.

Nzima urged MPs to assist the ministry in securing the full E32 million requested, which he believes would enable them to meet the minimum requirements necessary for Somhlolo to comply with international standards.

The ongoing renovations, currently in Phase IV, encompass several enhancements, including the installation of a backup power generator, a giant screen and the ongoing construction of public toilets behind the stands, among other improvements. During the debate, Madlangampisi MP Allen Vilane suggested it might be time to contemplate a new project altogether, arguing that Somhlolo has endured too many repairs over the years.

Vilane acknowledged that while Somhlolo is beautiful and well-situated, perhaps the focus should shift towards something new. Meanwhile, Nhlambeni MP Mazwi Zwane highlighted that Somhlolo has received funding allocations for years, including throughout the last parliamentary term. He urged the ministry to calculate the total expenditure on the stadium over the past decade and proposed that the E20 million allocation for 2025/26 should be the final funding approved for the project.

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