Police and soldiers in
Swaziland (eSwatini) have been accused of demanding bribes from businesses to
allow them to stay open during the coronavirus lockdown.
Elsewhere in Swaziland
police have been accused of illegally forcing businesses to close. Police with
batons reportedly threatened workers.
Swaziland is on a 20-day
lockdown in response to the coronavirus.
The Times of
eSwatini reported that
members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS), His Majesty’s Correctional
Services (HMCS) and Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) had been accused. It
reported, ‘The business owners alleged that some of the security personnel had
offered to let them operate their businesses as long as they gave them money.’
One businessman told the
newspaper three police officers in uniform had offered to let him trade as long
as he paid them E700.
It reportedly happened on
Saturday (28 March 2020), the first day of the lockdown.
There were also reports that
small businesses such as hairdressing salons, dressmaking and retail outlets in
the capital Mbabane had been illegally forced to close.
The Times of
eSwatini reported, ‘ A
group of police officers forced hairdressers out of their workplaces at the
Commercial Centre in the capital city [on Monday] and were carrying batons while
shouting at the frightened employees. What seemed to be the gripe, according to
the small business owners, was that neither government nor the law enforcers
had notified them that they should close, but the police came to their
businesses and ordered them to close shop.’
A hairdresser told the
newspaper, ‘eSwatini declared a partial lockdown and we seek clarity on what
exactly it entails as it now appears that all shops are being closed and
everyone is chased home.’
Regulations
published after the lockdown was
announced cover the closure of bars, and restaurants but say nothing about
other shops.
In a statement issued on
the first day of the lockdown Prime
Minister Ambrose Dlamini said
business were ‘expected to scale down their operations
and, most importantly, meet the appropriate health and hygiene standards,
failing which they risk closure.
‘We continue to engage business to cushion the effects
of this partial lockdown on their businesses, and more especially, to ensure
full compliance to the partial lockdown measures,’ he said.
Police were
also reportedly out in force on the streets of Mbabane on
Monday stopping people and demanding proof of residence.
See also
More
than 40 arrested in Swaziland for defying coronavirus lockdown during first
weekend
https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/03/more-than-40-arrested-in-swaziland-for.html
Swaziland Govt publishes coronavirus regulations
Swaziland Govt publishes coronavirus regulations
Swaziland
coronavirus partial lockdown Day1 – P.M. statement
Swaziland
King declares state of emergency over coronavirus. Schools closed, foreign
travel suspended
https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/03/swaziland-king-declares-state-of.html
No comments:
Post a Comment