Times Of Swaziland: FINALLY: PM LIFTS ALCOHOL BAN FROM OCT 26

FINALLY: PM LIFTS ALCOHOL BAN FROM OCT 26
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 BY NTOMBI MHLONGO on 13/10/2020 09:15:00


MBABANE - He promised the nation good news and he delivered just that at around
noon yesterday.
After over three months, the Prime Minister, Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini, gave the
nation the news it had been waiting for - the lifting of the ban on the
production, manufacturing and wholesaling of alcohol.
The PM made the much-anticipated announcement during a press conference held at
Cabinet yesterday and it will come into effect on October 26, 2020.
The PM lived up to a promise he made last Saturday that he would deliver good
news to the nation.
Following the promise, the nation was waiting with bated breath, with many
holding the belief that he would lift the ban which had frustrated not just
imbibers, but liquor traders and employees alike.
During the press conference, the PM said government was alive to the concerns of
the liquor industry concerning the reopening of the sale of liquor in the
country.
Sympathise
“We sympathise with the industry for the inconvenience they have been through
over the past months. This was a tough decision which Cabinet took based on
health advice in order to minimise the spread of the virus (COVID-19) and to
save more lives. As promised, government has since reviewed the ban, working in
collaboration with health experts, and has taken the decision to lift the ban
with effect from October 26, 2020,” he said.
The PM then announced the terms and conditions which will apply to liquor
businesses, one of which is that manufacturers of alcohol shall operate as per
their normal operating hours.
Distributors, wholesalers and retailers shall operate on Mondays to Fridays from
9am to 5pm.
Dlamini stated that there shall be no sale on weekends and that liquor would be
sold for home use only.
Also included in the terms is that drinking in public places, at picnics and the
hosting of house parties, would not be allowed.  He also mentioned that hotel
residents would be expected to consume liquor in their rooms. In restaurants,
liquor would only be served with meals in glasses or tumblers.
“Liquor sharing is prohibited. Liquor businesses shall provide screening for
all workers and clients when entering premises,” Dlamini said.
Responsibility
Elaborating, the PM said liquor businesses shall have the responsibility to
enforce the wearing of masks and the observation of social distancing by
everyone entering their premises as well as ensure that there was no loitering
around the premises.
It is worth noting that the PM had issued a statement on June 23, 2020, where
government stopped the wholesale and distribution of liquor with effect from
July 1, 2020, for a period not exceeding two months.   Government, however, was
silent after August 31, until a statement was issued by Government Press
Secretary Sabelo Dlamini that alcohol remained banned.
Again, many believed that the decision would be reviewed at the end of September
2020, something which, however, did not happen.
Last week, the nation was left in the dark on the issue as it became clear that
the alcohol ban had been extended indefinitely as the premier said they were
still reviewing reports from health experts and changes, if any, would be
announced. This was after the PM had announced the reopening of some sectors of
the entertainment and sports industries.
Since the ban on the sale of liquor, there has been a lot of sale of booze
through the black market.
Some have argued that this had caused a lot of job losses. Beginning his speech
yesterday, the PM mentioned that the COVID-19 pandemic continued to reinvent
itself around the globe, indicating that it would take longer to find a lasting
solution.
Threat
He said with over 37 million infections, and deaths having surpassed a million
people; the country was indeed faced with an exponential health threat that left
little room to make choices, which may cost more lives.  “Over the past seven
months, the Kingdom of Eswatini has also grappled with the scourge which has not
only strained the health sector but negatively impacted on the economy and
people’s livelihoods. As of this morning (yesterday), a total of 5 669 people
have been infected with a recorded 113 deaths. May I take this opportunity, on
behalf of His Majesty’s Government, to pass our condolences to the relatives
and friends of the deceased,” he said.
Sharing feedback on the health sector, the premier said while the recovery rate
had been impressive over the past month and a marked dip in infections has been
observed, the country could not afford to be complacent and assume that the
worst was behind it.
“We are still above an average of 10 infections a day, which means all of us
have to take full responsibility in order to save lives.  Health experts have
warned us that we are in danger of experiencing another upsurge of cases over
the festive season if we do not take heed of the COVID-19 health prevention
protocols.
Adhere
“We, therefore, urge all emaSwati to consistently adhere to these
non-pharmaceutical health measures even at a time when more partial lockdown
restrictions are lifted by government,” he stated.
Regarding the relaxed cross-border travel, he said over the partial lockdown
period, all countries were seized with the responsibility of protecting their
citizens from the rampaging virus.
This, he said, included limiting or regulating cross-border travel.
“Since the beginning of the month, we have seen the implementation of relaxed
cross-border travel. This has been done with extreme caution, taking into
account continued adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures. We have been made
aware of frustrations encountered by essential cross-border travellers,
especially truck drivers. Government is in constant contact with our neighbours
to ensure ease of cross-border travel for essential travellers,” the PM
assured.
He lamented that as the country relaxed the restrictions on travelling across
borders, there was an anticipation of an influx of travellers in and out which
of the country, he said had a potential of increasing the numbers of cases if
measures to control the pandemic were ignored.
He encouraged all emaSwati to travel only when necessary, saying the virus was
still prevalent and claiming lives locally and globally.
“The easing of travel restrictions does not mean the virus is no longer a
threat on people’s lives,” he said.
Regarding the education sector, the PM said government appreciated the joint
effort from all stakeholders for the smooth reopening of schools since July 6,
2020.
He said government was grateful to partners for their support towards the hand
hygiene materials and personal protective equipment (PPE) distributed to schools
for teachers and learners.
Furthermore, he encouraged learners to follow the lessons taught on radio, TV
and newspapers, saying it would help them catch up on the lost instructional
time when schools open in January 2021.
He emphasised on the re-enforcement of COVID-19 prevention, saying all citizens
should remember the collective goal to halt the spread of COVID-19 and reduce
the deaths associated with it.
Protecting
“Achieving this goal requires concerted and consistent efforts. Every person
has a role to play towards protecting themselves, their families, their
communities and the nation from this deadly, contagious illness. We should be
uncompromising in adhering to prevention protocols at all times to prevent a
resurgence of high infections as observed worldwide. Apathy cannot be allowed to
creep in if we are soon to return to a ‘new normal’,” he emphasised.
On another note, the PM beamed with a smile as he relayed the projections of
good rains this season and that they would go on for the next coming months.
He, therefore, encouraged emaSwati to engage in farming for both subsistence and
commercial purposes as part of continued efforts to ward off the effects of the
pandemic on food security.