During the colonial days, the Tinkhundla system did not get necessary support in order to fulfill all the functions they were expected to perform. Even when it was incepted in full force in 1978, still it was not given the recognition in terms of budgetary allocations adequate qualified personnel, office accommodation, housing and social services such as water, electricity, telephones, office equipments and stationery.
There has been a great improvement in the provision of office structure. Tinkhundla construction programmes were redesigned and implemented through out the country. Tinkhundla structures now have electricity, telephones, fencing, stationery, furniture and a conference room.
November 11, 2004 Tinkhundla Computerization Programme was launched at Nhlambeni Inkhundla for an effective, efficient, vibrant and sustainable people driven socio-economic transformation. According to the Swaziland constitution and the Decentralization policy, Tinkhundla are now local governments and will be instrumental in the bottom-up planning process. The major role is the development of a participatory and integrated development plan. Furthermore, a new area of emphasis is the development and maintenance of comprehensive database for each of these local institutions, which will inform development.
Tinkhundla centres as economic growth point where people meet and communities are mobilized to embark on business projects has been allocated Tinkhundla Empowerment Fund. Initially it was Seventy Thousand Emalangeni (70,000) per Inkhundla, but lately it was upgraded to one hundred and thirty Thousand Emalangeni (E130 000). This caters for the payment of utilities, stationery and minor maintanace of the Tinkhundla offices.
Construction of Tinkhundla buildings was first phase of government community strategies, second phase was construction of community business workshops (Sedco-like).Third phase will consist of the construction of community hall and staff housing.
