Eswatini Approves E2.4 Billion DBSA Loan for National Housing Programme

Eswatini's House of Assembly has passed the Development Bank of Southern Africa (National Housing and Infrastructure Programme) Loan Bill, 2026, paving the way for the government to access up to E2.4 billion to finance housing and supporting infrastructure.

The loan has a 15-year tenor with a three-year grace period and is expected to create about 3,000 jobs during the construction phase while expanding access to affordable housing and stimulating activity in the construction and property sectors.

Presenting the Bill, Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg said the financing would be channelled towards the National Housing and Infrastructure Programme (NHIP), which is being implemented through the Eswatini Housing Board. He described the programme as a national investment in housing, communities and infrastructure rather than a simple construction initiative.

According to the Finance Committee report, the programme is expected to benefit about 8,024 Emaswati, comprising roughly 3,024 direct and 5,000 indirect beneficiaries across the country's four regions, with at least 50 per cent of direct beneficiaries expected to be women.

The programme will provide apartments, two- and three-bedroom houses, townhouses, rental housing, serviced residential plots and incremental housing solutions. Supporting infrastructure will include roads, water, sanitation, electricity, telecommunications, community facilities and recreation areas.

The Finance Committee recommended that contractors and labour be sourced locally to retain more of the economic benefit in the country, while the Construction Industry Council is expected to be involved to ensure compliance with construction standards, contractor registration, quality assurance and local content requirements.