People face ‘imminent death from hunger’ in Swaziland as coronavirus lockdown hits poorest

People in a township in Swaziland (eSwatini) face ‘imminent death from hunger’ after they lost their jobs because of the coronavirus shutdown in the kingdom.
 

Some are scavenging for edible weeds to eat. 

It is happening at the Kwaluseni township, according to a Swaziland newspaper.

Local member of the House of Assembly Sibusiso Mabhanisi Dlamini called on the Prime Minister Ambrose Dlamini to act urgently.

The eSwatini News (part of the Times of Swaziland) reported, ‘The residents feel that COVID-19 [coronavirus] has reduced them to mere scavengers forced them to either fight or succumb to imminent death from hunger.’ 

It added, ‘At worst, residents say hunger is exacerbating sickness and disease and threatens to plunge the community back to its shameful era of being the national hotspot for violent crime.’

Many of the residents work in Taiwanese-owned textile factories in nearby Matsapha. Others are vendors who work for themselves, others are maids. All have lost their jobs and have no money.

Hlengiwe Hlatshwako, who earned a living by moving from place to place and doing laundry for people, told the News, ‘Now that we have been warned to stay at home, I do not have any source of income and this is worrying me because I have five children whose father has also been told to stay at home. How do we stay indoors with no food to eat? We will die of starvation.’

Sibusiso Mabhanisi Dlamini said he had already sent messages for help to the prime minister and his deputy.

He said, ‘People were calling me every now and then asking for food. Some were so desperate that they said even if I gave them mealie-meal, they would gladly eat it with water than to struggle under severe hunger.’

Hunger is widespread across Swaziland. This week the African Press Agency reported more than 11,000 vulnerable children were without food because 650 soup kitchens at neighbourhood care points had closed because of the coronavirus crisis.

The children previously received two meals a day provided by the Swazi government through the assistance of international donors.

It quoted an anonymous official from the Deputy Prime Minister’s office saying, ‘The situation has been worsened by the fact that schools are also closed yet most of the children would not receive free lunch from schools under the schools feeding scheme.’

Even before the coronavirus outbreak hunger was widespread across Swaziland. About 232,000 people (25 percent of the rural population) were expected to experience severe acute food insecurity, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).

In November 2019, it was reported in the Times of eSwatini that five elderly women in the Nsalitje area had starved to death and many more were said to be quietly being killed by hunger. A continuing draught and restrictions on importing cheap mealie maize from neighbouring South Africa were blamed.

See also

World Food Program falls short in fundraising as hunger grips Swaziland and King spends lavishly on himself

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2019/07/world-food-program-falls-short-in.html

Swaziland nurses’ union calls for closure of major hospital in fight against coronavirus

Nurses in Swaziland (eSwatini) want a major hospital closed down, the patients discharged, and then it reopened as a scaled-down coronavirus centre.

Healthcare is in disarray across the kingdom and nurses do not have enough personal protective equipment such as masks, gloves and gowns.

Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU) President Bheki Mamba called for the closure of Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital at Manzini after the first healthcare worker, a 35-year-old nurse, tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19).

At least 26 healthcare workers at the hospital are in self-isolation.

Nurses and healthcare workers have been calling for better protection against the virus since it emerged last month. The Swazi Government has threatened to charge them with breaking the new National Emergency Regulations if they refuse to work without adequate protection.

Mamba said RFM should close down, discharge all patients and deal with only emergencies. He said the hospital must then test all healthcare workers, fumigate wards and get help from extra professional healthcare workers, before reopening. This would ensure the safety of workers and patients.

In a statement the Communist Party of Swaziland said the situation at RFM was ‘totally chaotic’. It said, ‘Provision of personal protective equipment has been inadequate and uneven, testing has been infrequent, often replaced by largely ineffectual “risk-assessment”, only wards and departments where cases of COVID-19 have been suspected have been fumigated, instead of fumigating the entire hospital.’

It added no emergency strategic programme had been enacted by the hospital management even after several weeks since King Mswati III, the kingdom’s absolute monarch, declared a national emergency.

It said, ‘No national emergency or disaster coordinating committee exists for spearheading the national response to the pandemic. Instead, decisions apparently come from Mswati, who hasn’t been seen in weeks.’

As of 18 April there had been one recorded death from coronavirus and 22 people had tested positive.

See also

Coronavirus: Swaziland hospitals in crisis, PM forms emergency task groups

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/03/coronavirus-swaziland-hospitals-in.html

Swaziland hospital thrown into confusion as suspected coronavirus patient admitted

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/03/swaziland-hospital-thrown-into.html
 

Swaziland nurses refuse to treat patients until they get protective equipment

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/03/swaziland-nurses-refuse-to-treat.html

Swaziland security forces whip destitute woman searching for food during coronavirus lockdown

Security forces in Swaziland (eSwatini) whipped a destitute woman as she desperately searched for food for her three children during the present coronavirus lockdown.

She was one of hundreds left without food or money as her job disappeared when King Mswati III, the absolute monarch of Swaziland, demanded the kingdom partially closedown.

The eSwatini News (the Saturday edition of the Times of eSwatini) reported that hunger was widespread in the Kwaluseni township because people who worked in the nearby industrial town of Matsapha had been put out of work. Many worked in Taiwanese-owned textile factories.

It reported, ‘Some residents walk about in search of green edible weed (imbuya) just to live another day.’

It added, ‘The residents said their desperation had been worsened by security forces’ tough stance on enforcing the stay at home regulation.’

The News reported, ‘Gabsile Simelane, who alleged that she took lashes by a sjambok from the security forces, said she felt the government had abandoned them. 

‘“I went to ask for food from a relative and the security forces found me at Eteni and asked me why I was not at home. I explained my situation but they did not listen and gave me three strokes with a sjambok before sending me back home. That day me and my three children ate nothing,” she alleged.’

Mpumelelo Gumedze who sells roasted chicken by the roadside was forced to close his business. ‘Gumedze also alleged that he was brutally assaulted by the security forces on Monday evening when he went to meet a cousin,’ the newspaper reported.

On Wednesday (15 April 2020) Swazi Prime Minister Ambrose Dlamini endorsed police beating people during the coronavirus lockdown. He told a press briefing, ‘If you are found to be violating these regulations, the law will definitely take its course, we won’t compromise on this. Maybe those who were assaulted were found to be on the wrong side of the law by breaking the regulations put in place by government. We would like to encourage members of the public to abide by these regulations, there shouldn’t a need for the law enforcement to force you to respect these regulations.’

There have been many reports of police, army and correctional service personnel beating people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown which started on 27 March 2020.

Last week Mbabane lawyer Sabelo ‘Mngo’ Mngomezulu was left with broken ribs after soldiers assaulted him, two women were whipped with sticks by police and a man was hospitalised after police beat him about the head with a baton. 

Previously, an 85-year-old woman collapsed and died when security forces raided her home because they thought she was selling alcohol. 

Armed military police officers also forced members of the public to do press-ups when they were found at a bus rank in Manzini during the coronavirus lockdown.

Some businesses had claimed they were being asked to pay bribes to police and army in order to remain open.

Police were also reportedly stopping people on the streets of Mbabane and demanding proof of residence.

See also

More reports of police and army violence against civilians as Swaziland coronavirus lockdown continues

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/04/more-reports-of-police-and-army.html

 

Swaziland armed police, army intimidate people to obey coronavirus lockdown. Woman, 85, dies

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/04/swaziland-armed-police-army-intimidate.html
 

King puts Swaziland into partial lockdown in bid to beat coronavirus. Army and police on standby

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/03/king-puts-swaziland-into-partial.html

The power behind the throne? How a teenager became Swaziland’s king

There has been a bit of activity on social media recently with people speculating about how would eSwatini choose a new king if the need arose. You might be interested in reading something I wrote back in 2011 about how King Mswati himself came to the throne

Richard Rooney

PLOTS, INTRIGUE AND THE SWAZI KING

Swazi Media Commentary 25 January 2011

King Mswati III of Swaziland must be a very worried man at news that court papers relating to a treason trial held in secret shortly after he came to the throne have come to light after 23 years.

The papers, which were deliberately removed from Swaziland after the trial in 1987 and have been unearthed in Namibia, could contain details about the plotting that surrounded King Mswati’s rise to power. The papers might also remind the King’s subjects that he is really only where he is today because of political intrigue. Put simply, a political group plotting within the ruling elite of Swaziland supported him. Does he owe his position and wealth to them – and who knows, if today that same group wanted to withdraw its support, what happens next?

Unlike in many societies that still have monarchs, in Swaziland the eldest child (often only the son is eligible) of a deceased monarch doesn’t simply become king once the reigning monarch dies. In Swaziland, the king is said to be chosen in accordance with Swazi law and custom. But the part of Swazi law and custom relating to the selection of a successor to a king is unknown to a majority of ordinary Swazi. 

The story of how King Mswati, who was known as Prince Makhosetive as a child, became the monarch goes like this, according to one biography. 

‘King Sobhuza II had deftly managed to hold rivalling power factions within the royal ruling alliance in check, and so his death in August 1982, left a power vacuum.’

At this time Makhosetive was 15 years old and a schoolboy at Sherborne in England.

‘In keeping with tradition, Makhosetive’s appointment by his father was not publicly announced. Before his death the King had chosen one of his queens, the childless Princess Dzeliwe, to preside over the monarchy as regent until the prince turned 21 years of age. 

‘It was in keeping with tradition that she be childless, so that she would not involve herself in a factional struggle to advance the position of her own son. Factional quarrels broke out into the open, however, in the interregnum period, while the prince was [at school] in the United Kingdom. 

‘Continuing disputes led members of the Liqoqo, a supreme traditional advisory body, to force the Queen Regent to resign. In her stead the Liqoqo appointed Queen Ntombi, Prince Makhosetive’s mother, who initially refused to take up the position.

Further disputes between royal factions led to his coronation as King Mswati III, in April 1986, three years earlier than expected.

At the time, the King was the youngest monarch in the world. 

‘Observers saw the early coronation as an attempt on the part of the Liqoqo to legitimate the usurpation of Dzeliwe and consolidate their gains in power. Prince Makhosetive, now King Mswati III, acted quickly however to disband the Liqoqo and call for parliamentary elections.

Another biography takes up the story. 

‘In May 1986 Mswati dismissed the Liqoqo, the traditional advisory council to regents, which had assumed greater powers than were customary. In July 1986 he dismissed and charged with treason Prime Minister Prince Bhekimpi and several government officials for their role in the ejection of Queen Regent Dzeliwe, though he eventually pardoned those who were convicted.’

Another biography of King Mswati says,‘King Mswati’s first two years of rule were characterized by a continuing struggle to gain control of the government and consolidate his rule.

‘Immediately following his coronation, Mswati disbanded the Liqoqo and revised his cabinet appointments. In October 1986 Prime Minister Bhekimpi Dlamini was dismissed and for the first time a nonroyal, Sotsha Dlamini, was chosen for the post.

‘Prince Bhekimpi and 11 other important Swazi figures were arrested in June 1987. [Prince] Mfanasibili, [Prince] Bhekimpi, and eight others were convicted of high treason. Eight of those convicted, however, were eventually pardoned.

‘In early 1989, rumors circulated to the effect that Prince Mfanasibili had attempted to orchestrate a coup while in prison. Other rumors suggested that Mfanasibili was planning an escape from prison for the purpose of mounting a coup. After Mswati's coronation, royal infighting and intrigue remained very much an aspect of Swazi governance.’ 

According to the Times Sunday, an independent newspaper in Swaziland, the court papers that have just come to light relate to the trial of Prince Mfanasibili, Robert Mabila and George Msibi, three of the men convicted of treason. They are now said to want redress from the present Swazi Government. Mabila had been sentenced to eight years imprisonment and Prince Mfanasibili and Msibi were given 15-year jail terms. They were released after an order from King Mswati III in 1988. 

I doubt if it is entirely a coincidence but on 15 January 2011 Prince Mfanasibili called his family together for a private meeting in which he is said to have given his version of the events surrounding the treason case. Some details of the ‘private’ meeting were reported in the Times of Swaziland yesterday (24 January 2011). 

Until now the treason court judgement has remained secret. If the three men seeking redress from the government press their case, it is difficult to see how the details can remain secret much longer.

See also

HOW A SWAZI KING IS MADE

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2008/07/how-swazi-king-is-made.html

SCHOOLBOOK REVEALS ROYAL FAMILY RIFT

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2014/05/schoolbook-reveals-royal-family-rift.html

Swaziland records first coronavirus death, but relaxes lockdown. Buses to run normally again

Swaziland (eSwatini) has recorded its first death from the coronavirus (COVID-19), Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi confirmed on Thursday (16 April 2020). 

It came a day after the Swazi Government announced it would extend a 20-day partial lockdown for another three weeks but relax many of the restrictions.

Public transport will be allowed to continue to operate normally. It had been restricted to running only in the early morning and late afternoon.

Nkosi told a press briefing the victim was a man, aged 59. He had been admitted to the kingdom’s COVID-19 facility in Mbabane on Monday. He had been diagnosed with pneumonia and diabetes mellitus on admission. He was given ‘oxygen therapy’ but his condition deteriorated and he died on Wednesday. 

She also announced the 17^th confirmed case of coronavirus. She said to date of the 17, eight people had recovered.

At the same briefing Minister of Public Works and Transport Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe announced public transport would now operate during normal working hours as a response to the extended partial lockdown period previously announced by Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini.

He said, ‘The operation of public transport is essential. Buses, taxis and minibuses shall operate at 70 percent capacity on condition that all occupants wear face masks.’

He added, ‘All passengers boarding public transport must have their hands washed with water and soap or sanitised prior to boarding.’

Ndwandwe said it was the duty of the passenger to provide themselves with face masks. ‘Public transport drivers must not allow commuters to board vehicles without face masks.’

He added, ‘All cross-border road passenger movements to neighbouring countries remain prohibited for the duration of the partial lockdown. Private vehicles shall not exceed 70 percent carrying capacity and all shall be compelled to wear masks during the course of travel.’

He said, ‘Private vehicles shall not operate a taxi service or load passengers for gain.’

At the same briefing Minister of Home Affairs Princess Lindiwe announced that Monday, 20 April 2020 would be a public holiday to celebrate King Mswati III’s birthday which falls this year on Sunday 19 April.

See also

Swaziland’s absolute monarch extends coronavirus lockdown: P.M. statement

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/04/swazilands-absolute-monarch-extends.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

Assault on human rights follows coronavirus lockdown in Swaziland

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/04/assault-on-human-rights-follows.html

More reports of police and army violence against civilians as Swaziland coronavirus lockdown continues

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/04/more-reports-of-police-and-army.html

Swaziland’s absolute monarch extends coronavirus lockdown: P.M. statement

King Mswati III, the absolute monarch of Swaziland (eSwatini), has extended the coronavirus lockdown in his kingdom for a further 21 days, his Prime Minister Ambrose Dlamini announced on Wednesday (15 April 2020).

The King, who has not been seen in public since the coronavirus (CORVID-19) crisis started last month, was not at the briefing where the extension was announced.

Dlamini, who heads a government that was not elected but handpicked by the King, praised the King and the Ingwenyama [Queen Mother] for the ‘command and wise counsel’ given during the lockdown.

The lockdown began on 21 March 2020. To date there have been no reported deaths in Swaziland due to coronavirus. Only 16 people have been reported positive in the kingdom for the virus.

See also

Swaziland bans alcohol production and sales, threatens media as coronavirus lockdown extended

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/04/swaziland-bans-alcohol-production-and.html

Assault on human rights follows coronavirus lockdown in Swaziland

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/04/assault-on-human-rights-follows.html

More reports of police and army violence against civilians as Swaziland coronavirus lockdown continues

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/04/more-reports-of-police-and-army.html

The Swazi Government issued the following official statement.

GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF ESWATINI

PRIME MINISTER’S STATEMENT 

PARTIAL LOCKDOWN EXTENSION – COVID-19

The Kingdom of Eswatini has embarked on a robust drive to transform the economy and set this country on a path towards sustainable growth and stability. This noble mission is shared and supported by EmaSwati from all corners of our Kingdom. We need a strong and resilient economy to improve and sustain the livelihoods of EmaSwati and future generations.

However, we cannot achieve that goal if the lives of EmaSwati are threatened by a silent killer whose sting and pulse knows no bounds and boundaries. Our efforts to reignite our economy will be a futile exercise if we do not confront this enemy which continues to wreck havoc across the world, causing panic and uncertainty.

Eswatini, like the rest of the world, has traversed through an unprecedented and indefinite path over the past 20 days, when all our non essential services remained suspended to control the spread of the coronavirus also known as COVID 19. The partial lockdown that began on March 27 has changed the way of life as we are used to. It has strained our economy, adversely affected business, health and education, and delayed our economic renewal drive.

No one in the world had been prepared for this pandemic, but the international community is bound by the common objective to rid our globe of this highly contagious virus so that our lives may return to normal as soon as practically possible. Tough decisions have had to be made to protect our citizens and keep the country safe and secure.

It was therefore necessary as a country that we introduce a partial lockdown at the command and wise counsel of His Majesty King Mswati III and Ingwenyama in order to save lives. Projections from health professionals indicate that the partial lockdown measures may have delayed the onset of the infection peak by one to six months, and likely to have reduced the cumulative number of infections in Eswatini.  We have seen positive COVID-19 cases increase by seven more during the partial lockdown.  

These projections and increase in confirmed cases show that we are not yet at the point of flattening the curve. While a lot has been achieved over the past 20 days, the risk of an uncontrollable spread remains high.

It is for this reason that I have been commanded by His Majesty King Mswati III to announce an extension of the partial lockdown for another three weeks effective at midnight today. Bayethe Wena Waphakathi.

This extension of 21 days will buy the country more time to contain the spread of the virus and avoid overwhelming our health system. It will give us enough time to flatten the curve, allow us to aggressively fight the virus, train more health workers and acquire the requisite medical equipment to help EmaSwati face this virus head on.

His Majesty has commanded that this should be a relaxed partial lockdown, allowing low risk non essential business to operate under strict hygiene conditions. This will ensure that we balance the health interests and economic stability of the Kingdom. The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade will announce the low risk non essential business identified in this extended lockdown.

A number of health interventions will be undertaken to aggressively contain the spread of COVID 19 over the next 21 days. They include:

1. Surveillance
1. Government will in the next three weeks aggressively increase screening for COVID-19 symptoms in the following places among others:
1. i. Contacts of positive cases through the use of our regional rapid response teams
2. ii. Screening at hospital entry points

• iii. Intensified screening at clinics near situated informal crossings

1. iv. Clients calling the emergency toll-free line reporting symptoms of COVID-19
2. v. Returned travelers
3. vi. Police roadblocks

1. All those screened who fit the COVID-19 case definition will have samples taken for testing and be isolated as they await their results in order to curb infection rates
2. Contact tracing will continue along with spatial monitoring of new cases and surveillance to identify and intervene in hotspots.

2. Identification, isolation, testing and treatment of every case and contact
1. Government has established a COVID-19 testing Laboratory in Mbabane and is working to upgrade the Lubombo Referral Laboratory for COVID-19 testing. In the next weeks we will train additional staff members on COVID-19 testing to increase capacity at the Mbabane Molecular Laboratory, including establishment of systems for seamless reporting of results.
2. We have implemented forecasts for commodities required for testing required and these commodities will continue to be delivered to the country.
3. The Ministry of Health will be conducting assessments of clients to determine if they are able to self-isolate at home, those who are unable to will be provided with facilities to do so.
4. Government is recommending the use of ordinary cloth masks for the population at large which will be accompanied by mass education on the use of the masks. Even though ordinary masks do not prevent one from getting COVID-19, they prevent a person with COVID-19 from spreading it.
3. Case Management
1. We are building capacity to be able to safely treat all patients requiring hospitalization without resorting to crisis standards of care. We have procured additional beds, ventilators and have recruited additional staff to expand ICU bed capacity for the additional cases that may occur.
2. Government is renovating some of the health facilities to increase isolation capacity of the country
3. We are working with the teams on the ground to ensure that all facilities have areas for triage before entering for detection of COVID-19 symptoms.
4. Approximately 50% of all Health Care workers have been trained and the remaining will be trained during the extension period
4. Infection prevention and control
1. All our frontline healthcare workers will be tested for COVID-19 as it is a priority to ensure their protection for continued service delivery
2. Training on infection control measures for COVID-19 will continue on an ongoing basis as well as procurement and distribution of PPE
5. Port health measures
1. All returning travelers will be quarantined in a Government provided accommodation for 14 days upon entry into the country as it can take up to 2 weeks for symptoms to emerge

It is also evident that the pandemic is severely affecting our businesses, particularly small enterprises. Despite this reality, Government is committed to assist businesses to survive this partial lockdown. Clearly Government does not have the financial muscle and enough resources to save businesses from collapse but we remain determined to meet these businesses halfway and minimize the adverse impact of this pandemic on our economy. We will target those businesses that are willing to retain their employees and continue to pay them during this difficult period.

We will provide relief of up to E90 Million to businesses with a turnover of E8 million or less which mainly are small and medium enterprises. This relief will be directed to businesses that have continually supported the development of the country by complying with their tax obligations, which means they have filed and paid their taxes on time up to the 2019 tax year. This amount will be paid by way of tax refunds through the Eswatini Revenue Authority in monthly instalments of 25% of the actual tax paid in 2019. Specific guidelines on this relief will be provided through the Eswatini Revenue Authority.

May I acknowledge the role that has been played by the Deputy Prime Minister and the National Disaster task teams ever since a National Emergency was declared in the Kingdom. Our Regional Administrators and regional teams have been committed in implementing COVID 19 intervention measures at community level. A number of interventions that have taken place over the past 20 days include that:

• Many public spaces and communities in the country have been assisted with hand washing facilities, including 506 water tanks and public information through the media and distribution of Information and Educational material has been increased.
• The process of disinfecting public spaces has been initiated mainly in our cities and it will soon be extended to towns.
• At least 500 Volunteers have been activated to work with communities to raise awareness.
• A total E47 million in kind and E70 million in cash has been raised by both Government, businesses, individuals in Eswatini and development partners.

May I take this opportunity to thank our international friends and partners who have come on board to assist the Kingdom win this fight, including the gracious donation we have received from the United Nations. My sincere gratitude goes to Taiwan who are assisting us with financial and human resources, including supplying the country with the necessary equipment so required to conquer this virus. Taiwan has provided the Kingdom with 4 specialist doctors and equipment which include 13 ventilators, 500 forehead thermometers, 7 infrared scanners and 60 000 surgical masks.

Government is indebted to His Majesty King Mswati III and Ingwenyama for leading the charge against this virus and showing us direction. His Majesty is well and healthy. Those misleading the nation about his health will be dealt with in line with the law.

We are also appreciative to all Emaswati who have taken these tough measures in their stride. The nation is not doing government a favour by respecting the partial lockdown measures and following health advice but protecting each other, communities and country by acting responsibly.

May I inform the public that the production and distribution of alcohol is prohibited for the duration of this partial lockdown as it is considered high risk.

While this partial lockdown means people working in non essential will continue working from home, it is essential that I remind all heads of departments in the civil service to continue going to work to avoid grounding government machinery. All essential government services are expected to be operational without exception. It has also been of importance to ensure that all critical government institutions that are vital in keeping government functional be allowed to work.

I therefore announce that in the exercise of powers conferred by COVID 19 Regulation 25, the Prime Minister has also issued a directive varying the gathering of Parliament and Cabinet so that they can continue to operate during this partial lockdown as they are critical institutions for decision making.

As we observe the partial lockdown and restrict unnecessary movement and stay at home, let us remember to follow the precautionary guidelines as provided by the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation. These include:

• Our home environment should be kept clean and safe and all high touch surfaces must be disinfected regularly.
• Wash hands regularly with running water and soap. Help the young to also appropriately wash hands. In the absence of water and soap, the public is advised to use sanitizers.
• Stop shaking hands and use other non touch methods of greeting.
• Maintain a distance of at least 1 metre from each other.
• Avoid touching your face (mouth, nose, eyes) and cover coughs and sneezes.
• Take care of the vulnerable, especially senior citizens and those with underlying respiratory conditions who are more susceptible to the coronavirus infection.
• If you experience flu like symptoms (fever, difficulty breathing, cough, high temperature) visit your nearest health centre facility or call the Emergency Medical Services Toll free line 977. The public can also call the Emergency toll free line 112 for COVID 19 related emergency inquiries and for reporting incidences related to the response and interventions of the virus.

Thank you.

Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini                    

PRIME MINISTER

15 April 2020