MBABANE LAUNCHES ELDERLY SUPPORT PROGRAMME

By Tlalane Dlamini

The Municipal Council of Mbabane has launched an Elderly Community Support Programme aimed at strengthening social support for older residents and other vulnerable members of society.

The initiative follows a call by Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla for local authorities to strengthen support for elderly people and vulnerable communities, particularly in urban areas.

The inaugural programme was held on Friday, September 4, 2026, at the Msunduza Social Centre in collaboration with, and under the guidance of, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. More than 200 elderly residents from the Msunduza community attended the gathering, benefiting from public health screening, care and treatment services, as well as a meal.

Mbabane Mayor Thulani Mkhonto said the programme represents an important expansion of the Council’s existing social support initiatives.

The Council currently provides meals to children through its social centres and distributes food parcels to some of the most vulnerable families in the city. Mkhonto said extending support to older residents was a necessary step in addressing poverty and ensuring that vulnerable members of the community are not left behind.

Deputy Prime Minister Dladla highlighted urban poverty as a growing concern, noting that older people are among those who can be particularly vulnerable.

She said the monthly initiative would help ensure that elderly citizens receive greater attention while creating practical opportunities to support those most in need.

The programme builds on Mbabane Municipal Council’s network of nine social centres, which provide support to vulnerable residents, particularly children. Msunduza Social Centre normally serves approximately 150 children daily, while the Council’s nine centres collectively reach about 1,100 children each day.

The centres are supported by social centre volunteers and Community Health Care Volunteers, who contribute to the delivery of services to children and families within their communities.

The Council said the decision to extend support to elderly residents recognises that food insecurity and social isolation affect more than just children. The programme is also intended to create opportunities for older people to connect, share experiences and remain active within their communities.

Going forward, the Municipal Council, in collaboration with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, plans to make the initiative a regular programme, with meals for elderly residents targeted at least once a month.

The initiative is being positioned as part of Mbabane’s broader efforts to build a more caring and inclusive capital city—one where social support extends across generations and the contribution of older people to families, communities and the development of the city is recognised and valued.