Swaziland lifts ban on alcohol sales but PM warns against drinking with fear of coronavirus surge

Ambrose Dlamini, Prime Minister of Swaziland (eSwatini), warned people to lay off the booze during the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. A ban on alcohol sales is to be lifted on 26 October 2020 after the kingdom has been dry for months.

Dlamini at a media event said, ‘Health experts have projected a second wave over the festive season because around this time there is generally more movement amongst people, big family gatherings and high consumption of alcoholic beverages. Furthermore, as the economy continues to open, there is more movement of people thus increasing the chances of the virus spreading.’

He added, ‘I would like to remind all Emaswati that while consuming alcohol can be a joyous occasion for some, it is important to observe not just the health guidelines but the liquor re-opening guidelines. These guidelines are to be observed strictly, failure to which we will not hesitate the close any establishment that fails to adhere to these protocols.’

He said alcohol affected the central nervous system and took away rational decision making. He said, ‘Alcohol use, especially heavy use, weakens the immune system and thus reduces the ability to cope with infectious diseases. Alcohol alters your thoughts, judgement, decision-making and behaviour all which are required for people to take safety precautions to Covid-19. Heavy use of alcohol increases the risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome, one of the most severe complications of COVID-19.

‘Additionally most people like to drink in groups and in areas without sufficient spacing or ventilation and it is impossible to wear masks and drink alcohol.’

The Prime Minister also said, ‘May I caution that the resumption of alcohol sales is not a license to hide behind alcohol to be violent against women and children.’

He said it was disheartening to continue hearing reports of gender-based violence regularly in the kingdom and the Swazi Government would push to ensure that perpetrators were taken off the streets and faced the consequences of their actions.

Independent News, eSwatini, an online newspaper, reported the Prime Minister’s address on gender-based violence came after there had been numerous reports of women and children who had been murdered mostly by their lovers. This included a mother and her four-year-old son who were allegedly stabbed and had their throats slit open by a man believed to be her boyfriend.

It added, this year there had been a number of crimes which involved killing of women. One incident reported on 20 August 2020, was that of a female pupil who was stabbed 31 times all over the body with a knife allegedly by her boyfriend. The stabbed girl was a pupil at Dwalile High School and was living at her boyfriend’s homestead.

On 8 February, a police officer was charged with two counts of murder after he allegedly killed his spouse and her male companion. He allegedly used a gun belonging to the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS).   

Separately, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade warned traders not to exploit the situation created by the expected demand for alcoholic beverages by increasing prices.

There has been a decline in coronavirus cases in Swaziland. By Thursday (22 October 2020) the Ministry of Health had reported a total of 116 deaths and 5,814 positive cases of the virus. Of the positive cases, 5,468 people had recovered.

See also

Swaziland soldiers illegally sell alcohol to public during coronavirus ban

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/10/swaziland-soldiers-illegally-sell.html

Swaziland coronavirus likely to continue for months, but restrictions on sport and arts lifted

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/10/swaziland-coronavirus-likely-to.html

Top Royal presses Swaziland Govt to send riot police, army into homes to confiscate alcohol https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/07/top-royal-presses-swaziland-govt-to.html

Swaziland bans alcohol production and sales, threatens media as coronavirus lockdown extended https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/04/swaziland-bans-alcohol-production-and.html

Swaziland authorities ban march to protest ban on alcohol during coronavirus crisis https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/09/swaziland-authorities-ban-march-to.html

Thousands of job lay-offs hit Swaziland as coronavirus lockdown continues

About 9,000 people in Swaziland (eSwatini) are about to lose their jobs because of the coronavirus lockdown in the kingdom.

Labour Commissioner Mthunzi Shabangu said that 57 companies had applied to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security for permission to lay-off the workers.

He said, ‘It is evident that more people are yet to lose their jobs, because we have been receiving requests through and through.’

By law the companies are required to get permission from the ministry to lay-off workers but Shabangu told the eSwatini Observer that some had done so without notification.

The lay-offs are considered temporary for the duration of the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis but there is no guarantee that workers will get their jobs back. The workers will receive no wages during the lay-offs.

Meanwhile Swazi senators in the portfolio committee complained that a E90 million (US$5.3 million) relief fund set up to give assistance during the coronavirus lockdown was not helping micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME). 

They asked for a meeting with key ministries, including finance, labour and social security, housing and urban development and commerce, industry and trade to discuss possible solutions.

Director of MSME Mluleki Dlamini presented senators with a proposed model for MSME Finance Relief which he said was currently being developed by government.

Elsewhere, the Swazi Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade has closed 52 businesses for failure to observe the partial lockdown regulations. The lockdown began on 27 March 2020.

Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo said in a statement that some companies deliberately contravened the measures. These included not having protective clothing or sanitisers.

See also

Tens of thousands of jobs at risk in Swaziland as coronavirus pandemic continues

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/05/tens-of-thousands-of-jobs-at-risk-in.html

 

Coronavirus lockdown costs thousands of jobs in Swaziland, people evicted from homes

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/05/coronavirus-lockdown-costs-thousands-of.html

Swaziland to destroy 224,000 bottles of beer because of coronavirus lockdown

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/05/swaziland-to-destroy-224000-bottles-of.html

Swaziland Govt. tries for second time to ease coronavirus lockdown after previous attempt failed

The Swaziland (eSwatini) Government is once again to ease the coronavirus lockdown in the kingdom. When it tried to do this three weeks ago it reversed its decision within days because it encouraged people to lack vigilance in preventing the transmission of the virus.

Swaziland which is ruled by absolute monarch King Mswati III has been in lockdown for six weeks since 27 March 2020. Businesses have been restricted, travel severely limited and gatherings of more than 20 people banned.

At least 300,000 face severe hunger as people cannot afford to buy food because they no longer have paid jobs.

On Wednesday (6 May 2020) Swazi Prime Minister Ambrose Dlamini announced new rules that would ease the lockdown but not end it completely.

His announcement came on the same day Lizzie Nkosi, the Minister of Health, reported the second death from coronavirus (COVID-19) in Swaziland. There have also been 123 confirmed cases of the virus.

Dlamini announced, ‘the gradual opening of the economy’. He said, ‘The formal and informal economy must be given the impetus to come back to life and feed the countless families spread around our beautiful Kingdom. The importance of having a vibrant economy that creates jobs and supports livelihoods needs no reminder.’

He detailed the changes as follows:

1. Manufacturing and Production companies that have international orders to fulfil. They shall operate under strict WHO and Ministry of Health Guidelines. 

2. Agents and Consultants to operate three times a week.

3. Furniture Shops shall open three times a week; Tuesday, Thursday and Friday between 9am and 3pm. 

4. Dry Cleaners shall also operate under similar conditions as furniture shops. 

5. Retail Clothing Shops, tailors and dressmakers (that produce face masks and PPE) to operate three times a week – Monday, Wednesday and Saturday between 9am and 3pm. 

6. Vehicle testing stations shall operate three times a week. 

7. Deco Shops to operate three times a week. 

The Prime Minister said, ‘These businesses will have to demonstrate capability to implement strict COVID-19 regulations and hygiene standards to prevent the spread of the virus. They will have to seek permission to operate from the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade where they will prove that they have put in place very strong and stringent systems adhering to health precautions and ensuring that employees are able to practise social distancing, have adequate hand washing facilities, sanitizers, wear masks, among others.’

He added, ‘Any company failing to meet or comply with these precautionary measures will either be closed or denied permission to operate. It is important to emphasize that the eased measures do not mean all business will be allowed to operate.’

Social, sports and entertainment activities and gatherings remain banned until further notice. Everyone else will be expected to stay at home. Schools and colleges would remain closed.

Public transport will be allowed to operate at 70 percent capacity in a controlled manner and time. There will be strict adherence to the wearing of masks for all passengers.

At present Swazi police are giving on-the-spot fines to people found out of their homes for no legitimate reason.

The Prime Minister said, ‘There should be no reason to leave home except for workers in the permitted businesses and for citizens strictly looking for food or medical attention.’

He added in time the government would categorise areas of Swaziland as red, orange, yellow and green zones according to their levels of risk.

‘This is aimed at introducing a variable application of the partial lockdown from one specific geographical location to another,’ he said.

He added, ‘At the current rate, the Manzini region, and in particular the Manzini peri-urban and surrounding areas are classified as a red zone. Other cities and towns are categorised as orange zones.’

He said, ‘This zoning strategy will help government to target specific interventions to affected areas efficiently, such as testing, fumigation and decontamination of public spaces.’

See also

Coronavirus lockdown costs thousands of jobs in Swaziland, people evicted from homes

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/05/coronavirus-lockdown-costs-thousands-of.html

 

Army, police close down Swaziland’s main commercial city in bid to halt coronavirus spread

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/04/army-police-close-down-swazilands-main.html

Swaziland Govt tells High Court LGBTI acts are illegal because they are ‘unnatural’

A representative of the Swaziland (eSwatini) Government told the kingdom’s High Court LGBTI people were ‘unnatural’ and their campaign group was unlawful.

Siboniso Nkambule, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade, was opposing an application from the Eswatini Sexual and Gender Minorities (ESGM) group to be officially registered.

The Registrar of Companies had previously refused to register the association so that it could operate legally in the kingdom. ESGM has a number of objectives including to advance the protection of the rights of LGBTI people in Swaziland and reduce harm that affect their wellbeing based upon sexual orientation and gender identity.

Nkambule told the court, ‘May I state that every other sexual action other than what is in the order of nature, capable of producing offsprings is unnatural and, therefore, prohibited in terms of our laws.’ 

The Times of eSwatini reported Nkambule said in an affidavit, ‘The actions of Eswatini Sexual and Gender Minorities constitute unnatural action which ought to be stopped in our society for purposes of our young generations as well as the public interest.’

The matter is still pending in court.

Discrimination against LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex) people in Swaziland is widespread but in recent years they have become more visible and vocal. The first ever Pride march took place in 2018.

Melusi Simelane, Founder and Executive Director of ESGM, writing in a report on LGBTI experiences in Swaziland said LGBTI identities were not criminalised in Swaziland but colonial laws that included the crime of sodomy still existed. He said this suggested homosexuality was ‘simply about a sexual act rather than a broader issue of love and respect’.

He added the outdated laws violated constitutional rights. He said despite the law the state did not prosecute consenting adults.

A report published in 2019 written by two academics and the Southern and East African Research Collective on Health found evidence of serious human rights violations against Swazi people who were LGBTI. The report concluded they suffered ‘social exclusion, marginalisation and stigma’ because they were seen as being different from the rest of the population.

This, the report said, ‘has a negative impact on the mental health and wellbeing of people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex’.

Swaziland is a deeply conservative kingdom ruled by the absolute monarch King Mswati III. The King has in the past described homosexuality as ‘satanic’  In May 2016 four organisations jointly reported to the United Nations about LGBTI discrimination in Swaziland. Part of their report stated, ‘LGBT[I]s are discriminated and condemned openly by society. This is manifest in negative statements uttered by influential people in society e.g., religious, traditional and political leaders. Traditionalists and conservative Christians view LGBT[I]s as against Swazi tradition and religion. There have been several incidents where traditionalists and religious leaders have issued negative statements about lesbians.’ 

  

See also

LGBTI discrimination in Swaziland leads to big mental health issues, report finds

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2019/08/lgbti-discrimination-in-swaziland-leads.html
 

LGBT Pride film shows what it’s like to live with prejudice and ignorance in Swaziland

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2018/11/lgbt-pride-film-shows-what-its-like-to.html 

LGBTI Pride gets global attention

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2018/07/lgbti-pride-gets-global-attention.html

All 20 heads of state invited snub trade event hosted by Swaziland absolute monarch

King Mswati III, the absolute monarch of Swaziland (eSwatini), was snubbed by 20 heads of state who failed to accept his invitation to attend a trade launch.

The Swazi Government, which is not elected but picked by the King, was so confident they would attend it hired 18 top-of-the range cars to transport them while they were in Swaziland.

Media in the undemocratic kingdom revealed that many of the heads of state (sitting presidents and prime ministers) had at first accepted the invitation to the opening of an eTrade regional office but did not show.

The Sunday edition of the Times of eSwatini reported those who at first accepted included Zambia’s President Lungu and Guinea President Alpha Condé. It said, ‘Government went all out to ensure that these very important people would receive dignified treatment once they arrived in the kingdom.’

No heads of state attended and the only ‘VIPs’ who actually attended were former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and Chief Executive Officer of the Africa eTrade Group, Mulualem Syoum, it reported.

The Times reported Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo, ‘confirmed that 20 heads of state had been invited but those that either eventually arrived or sent representatives were five.’ He said they were not heads of states, but ministers.

Khumalo said 18 cars had been hired for the dignitaries. They included Lexus SUVs and BMW 5 series vehicles.

The King received another snub in February 2019 when it was announced Swaziland had missed out to South Africa on the chance to host the 2020 African Union summit. Media in South Africa said this was because Swaziland did not have the resources to fulfil the role.

It is no secret that Swaziland is broke. Hospitals have run out of vital drugs and schools have been forced to close because the government has not paid its suppliers. In his budget speech in March 2018 Finance Minister Martin Dlamini said government owed E3.1bn (US$230 million) in total to its suppliers for goods and services. 

Public servants have been striking for a 7.8 percent cost-of-living pay rise but the government says it does not have the money and has offered zero percent. Police brutally attacked workers during legal protests.

In 2016, when King Mswati was Chair of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) he took about E40m, mostly from public funds, to host a lavish Heads of State summit at a time when his government was so poor it could release only E22m of the E305m earmarked for drought relief in that year’s national budget. 

The Times of Swaziland reported in 2017 that the Swaziland Government spent E29 million (US$2.4 million) on 14 BMW cars and 80 motorbikes for the SADC summit. The vehicles were left idle after the summit ended.

See also

Swaziland’s absolute king misses out on AU Chair because his kingdom is broke

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2019/02/swazilands-absolute-king-misses-out-on.html

 

Millions ‘wasted’ on luxury vehicles at SADC summit

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2018/03/millions-wasted-on-luxury-vehicles.html