CALLS FOR FUEL RETAILERS’ RELAXED CURFEW

MBABANE – A relaxed curfew for fuel retailers is the suggested solution for the long queues at filling stations.

The country has been battling fuel scarcity for over a week now, with motorists forced to endure hours at filling stations waiting to fill up. Businesses also feel the pinch. Business Eswatini CEO Nathi Dlamini shared that the long queues for fuel were not only disruptive and unsightly but were becoming untenable. “Perhaps releasing fuel retailers from the constraints of the curfew could help,” suggested Dlamini. The country introduced an 11-hour curfew between 6pm and 5am over a week ago. The move was said to be a preventive measure to curtail the spread of COVID-19. As a result, most companies and businesses close at 3:30pm. These include the filling stations. Eswatini Fuel Retailers Association Chairman Mduduzi Nyoni supported the call for the relaxed restrictions.

“Fuel retailers should be allowed to operate outside the stipulated curfew hours. The role we play is that of supporting the economy in its entirety. “The restricted operating hours also provide for continued congestion. We’re actually creating superspreader (COVID-19) events. Extend the trade hours and allow people to travel and be able to access shopping to get their basic needs,” said Nyoni. Nyoni said the restrictions were not helping but instead were posing a greater risk. Yesterday this publication reported that the scarcity was caused by the unrest witnessed both here in Eswatini and South Africa. The latter is a major supplier of fuel here in Eswatini but the protests have grounded suppliers.  In the meantime, the Government of Eswatini has been forced to relax restrictions on the importation of fuel in large quantities from Mozambique. Two days ago government decided to invoke the clause in the Import Control Order on the fuel quota from Mozambique.  As a result, the Ministry of Finance is currently issuing special permits to oil companies to import from Mozambique. Large quantities are being imported from Mozambique to address the situation.

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