Times Of Swaziland: MGENULE ‘ALCOHOL TAP’ TURNED OFF, ARMY LAUNCHES PROBE

MGENULE ‘ALCOHOL TAP’ TURNED OFF, ARMY LAUNCHES PROBE
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BY SIBUSISO ZWANE on 06/10/2020 23:43:00


MATSAPHA – The ‘alcohol tap’ has been turned off at Mgenule.
Mgenule is the canteen belonging to the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF),
located opposite the army wing at Matsapha International Airport.
This publication visited the canteen and the army wing at Matsapha airport
yesterday. At the canteen, it found that there was no alcohol as only the
grocery shop was operating.
On the other hand, at the army wing at the airport, which is about 800 metres
away from the canteen, dozens of uniformed soldiers were found. A majority of
them were behind the offices and they were busy counting and repacking crates
with empty bottles of beer. While the majority of the military men were counting
and repacking the empty cases of beer, some were monitoring closely. It is worth
noting that on the fence of the army wing, there were pieces of a tent were
which  hung over and it prevented people who were outside to see what was taking
place inside.
Media
The senior officials who were found at the army wing said they were not allowed
to speak to the media. They referred this publication to the office of the army
public relations officer (PRO). They emphasised that if this publication wanted
to take pictures within the wing, it should get authority from the PRO’s
office.
As a result, when this reporter left the army wing, he was accompanied by a
military man who made sure that no pictures were taken.
Meanwhile, the UEDF PRO, Lieutenant Tengetile Khumalo, said the army would
launch an investigation regarding the matter, where it was alleged that despite
the ban on the distribution and sale of alcohol, alcoholic beverages were being
sold at the canteen in question.
“Indeed, pertinent structures within the defence force, have since taken up
the issue. Investigations are ongoing,” the army spokesperson said.
It is worth noting that this took place immediately after this publication
reported that imbibers around Matsapha had never run out of options on where
they could quench their thirst in the midst of the duration of the ban on
distribution and sale of alcohol. This was because alcoholic beverages had
always been available at Mgenule. However, the allegations are to the effect
that the liquor which was being sold did not belong to the army, but one of the
senior officers based at the army wing in Matsapha Airport.
Information gathered by this publication was that the liquor was allegedly
smuggled from the neighbouring South Africa, through the informal crossings
along the country’s borderline.