Hosea Inkhundla, Shiselweni – May 13, 2025: Engineers in Action (EIA) and Microprojects have begun construction on Eswatini’s longest pedestrian footbridge, which will span 128 meters across the Ingvawuma River, connecting the Emanyonyaneni and Nsizatje communities in Hosea Inkhundla, Shiselweni. Named Nyakuza Bridge, it is set to be completed by July 25, 2025.
This new bridge addresses a critical gap in rural connectivity. Currently, the nearest safe crossing is 9 kilometers away, forcing many residents, including schoolchildren, to take dangerous shortcuts. Over the past five years, five fatalities have occurred at the crossing.
Once completed, the Nyakuza Bridge will provide a safer and faster route for over 3,000 residents, including 2,100 children, to reach schools, clinics, markets, and neighboring villages.
Ana Jovanovic, Program Manager at EIA, stated, “This bridge is a huge challenge, but both communities need it. We are excited and ready to face the challenge, but we need full support from the community and local authorities.”
The Nyakuza Bridge is the fourth of eight bridges to be built in Eswatini this year as part of the Engineers in Action Student Bridge Program. This program brings together civil engineering students and professionals from universities like Duke University (USA) and McGill University (Canada) to collaborate with local engineers on-site, ensuring skills transfer and capacity building.
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