BY MBONO MDLULI
KUKHANYENI– A once-in-a-lifetime moment will forever remain etched in the memory of Sive Mamba (50), a Plant Operator at Steffanutti Stocks, who had the unexpected honour of instructing His Majesty King Mswati III on how to operate an excavator during the commissioning of a major road project at Kukhanyeni Inkhundla on Friday, 31 October 2025.
The King was touring the site of a road construction project valued at approximately E400 million, which will link Moneni in Manzini, through Kukhanyeni, and extend to Luve. Impressed by Mamba’s calm guidance and confidence in demonstrating the machine, His Majesty personally requested a photo with him – a gesture Mamba described as unforgettable.
During his speech, the King light-heartedly shared the humorous exchange he had with Mamba, saying the operator had asked him to return and help operate the excavator so they could complete the road faster.
“I told him to contact me so that we can work together in order to finish the project in time,” His Majesty joked, prompting loud laughter and applause from the audience of hundreds.
The 30-kilometre road will take an estimated 24 months to complete, with Steffanutti Stocks awarded the tender for construction. Once complete, the upgraded road is expected to open significant opportunities for growth, investment, and improved mobility in the region.
His Majesty emphasised that the newly paved road must serve as a catalyst for development in Kukhanyeni and surrounding areas, urging communities to shift away from the mindset that opportunities exist only along the Manzini-Mbabane corridor.
He called for the establishment of agricultural ventures, food production initiatives, and industrial development, stressing that the area must become a hub of economic activity benefiting local residents.
“Now that the road will be paved, I want to see massive development taking place. We must produce more food and create industries that will bring jobs and trade to this region,” the King said.
The commissioning marked both a strategic investment in infrastructure and a personal moment of pride for Mamba, who not only operated the excavator before the nation’s monarch but did so with a level of skill that earned royal recognition.
(Courtesy Pic)
