CONSTRUCTION Industry Council (CIC) Chief Executive Officer Maqhawe Mnisi said the impact of climate change on Eswatini’s construction industry has become one of their most urgent concerns.
He said the country has experienced severe weather fluctuations, including heavy rains, extended dry spells and unexpected temperature spikes, all of which have placed new pressures on infrastructure.
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Mnisi was speaking during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Eswatini Standards Authority (ESWASA) at the CIC Head Office in Mbabane on Thursday.
The ceremony marked a necessary step in improving the regulation, testing, and certification of construction materials, contractors and artisans, the CEO said.
Mnisi said the heavy floods recorded over the past two years exposed weaknesses in both imported and domestically produced materials.
“We are seeing climatic conditions we have never encountered before. These extreme patterns are putting stress on buildings, roads and bridges. If the materials used are not strong enough or tested adequately, those structures will fail.
“We witnessed cases where newly-built infrastructure could not withstand the pressure. Some walls collapsed, drainage systems failed and roofing materials were washed away. This was not simply a workmanship issue, material integrity played a major role,” said the CEO.
As part of its response, the CIC plans to intensify inspections at border posts and warehouses. Mnisi said the council would ensure that any material entering the country, especially cement, timber, roofing and steel, aligned with global standards for durability and environmental resilience.
He added that the CIC intended to work with international bodies to update Eswatini’s construction standards so they reflect the realities of changing weather patterns.
Mnisi said the council was strengthening its internal mechanisms to measure how contractors perform on-site and to identify companies that consistently fall short of compliance requirements.
The CEO said the performance standard was necessary because some contractors cut corners, resulting in poor workmanship, delays or safety compromises.
“We now have a performance standard that measures compliance levels of all companies registered with the CIC. We are moving toward mandatory pre-entry testing. If a product does not pass, it will not be allowed into the country. We cannot compromise on safety and the new system creates a transparent scoring mechanism.
“Companies will be graded based on evidence collected during inspections. If a company repeatedly fails inspections or uses uncertified materials, that record will reflect in its compliance score. We cannot continue allowing companies that perform poorly to win major projects. This standard will separate high-performing companies from those that need improvement,” Mnisi said.
The CIC will use this data to guide decisions on registration renewals, upgrades and disciplinary action. The CEO said contractors must demonstrate consistency.
Mnisi said a company that meets standards will be recognised, one that doesn’t will be required to undergo corrective measures, training or compliance support.
He said the approach was not meant to drive contractors out but to raise the industry’s overall quality.
ESWASA Executive Director Ncamiso Mhlanga said the standards authority was developing a national testing laboratory that will conduct independent assessments on all major construction materials.
Mhlanga said there has been a surge in complaints about construction materials failing prematurely. He said they had reports of corrugated iron sheets rusting or cracking within months of installation.
Once the laboratory becomes operational, ESWASA would issue compliance certificates for all materials that pass testing, products that fail will be rejected.
Mhlanga also said ESWASA would publish test results in quarterly reports to improve transparency.
“Our laboratory will be able to test cement grades, corrugated iron sheets, steel bars, bricks, sand, aggregates and other critical materials.”
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