The Eswatini National Provident Fund (ENPF) has handed over a newly constructed house and completed a long-delayed poultry shed for Stanley Lukhele, a local craftsman living with a disability.
Lukhele, a familiar figure among travellers and locals for his intricate wire and wood crafts, had long been living in precarious conditions in Maliyaduma. Despite his entrepreneurial spirit and modest income from handicrafts, he struggled to complete a chicken shed intended to supplement his earnings through poultry farming.
On Thursday, May 29, ENPF led by Board Chairman Mduduzi Gina and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Futhi Tembe, community leaders and residents gathered for the official handover of a modest, disability-friendly house and the now-completed poultry shed, both funded and supported by the Fund’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme.
The house is equipped with accessibility features to cater for Lukhele’s mobility needs, while the adjacent poultry shed provides the foundation for a sustainable income stream.
Speaking at the handover, Tembe said, “the fund viewed the initiative as part of its responsibility to ensure that investment success translates into direct social benefit. “This house is a symbol of our collective heart. We are proud of what we have achieved together and hopeful that this investment will bring lasting impact.
Tembe also acknowledged the ENPF Board for approving the funding allocation and for backing the CSR programme that allowed for the identification and support of deserving cases like Lukhele’s.
ENPF Board Chairperson Mduduzi Gina said the project was aligned with the fund’s statutory obligations under the ENPF order, which includes assisting the elderly and persons with disabilities. He said the fund’s broader social mandate played a central role in the decision to support Lukhele.
“Housing, as the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights reminds us, is a fundamental human right. Today we are not just handing over keys, we are restoring dignity and offering a foundation for future stability,” he said.
He added that the spirit behind the initiative reflects values upheld nationally and is consistent with the vision of His Majesty King Mswati III and Her Majesty the Indlovukazi, who have championed inclusive development.
“We are fortunate to live in a kingdom where support for the vulnerable is promoted from the highest levels,” Gina said. The ENPF CSR
Committee chaired by General Manager Corporate Services Sindie Mango, was actively involved in the project, with members having participated in the setting out of the foundation in February.
Mango described the initiative as part of a growing portfolio of projects designed to offer practical support to individuals and communities who are often left out of formal economic structures.
“We do not just attend handovers; we are involved from the ground up to ensure that the final outcome truly meets the needs of the beneficiary,” she said.
According to her, the fund earmarks a portion of its investment returns for CSR activities, ensuring that economic growth is not confined to members alone but shared through community upliftment.
“The support was designed to go beyond immediate relief, with the aim of helping Lukhele achieve longterm self-reliance,” she stated.
Lukhele who had previously tried to complete on his own said the poultry shed was essential for economic empowerment, offering him a practical means of livelihood beyond his craft business.
“I am very grateful to ENPF. They have given me a gift worth a lifetime. I pray that many other companies also reach out to people with disability so more can get support like me,” Lukhele said.
