Times Of Swaziland: BOTTLE STORE OWNED BY COP OPENS EVERY DAY, CLOSES LATE

BOTTLE STORE OWNED BY COP OPENS EVERY DAY, CLOSES LATE
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BY SIBUSISO ZWANE on 27/04/2021 08:13:00


SITEKI - Alcohol imbibers at KaMzilikazi in Siteki do not have to stock their
favourite drinks for weekends as a bottle store run by a police officer operates
every day.
This publication first received a tip-off about the matter at the beginning of
the month and last Saturday, a visit to the place was made.  The officer
operates Amahle Bottle Store, which is situated on the outskirts of Siteki town.
At the bottle store, this publication found that it operates more like a bar
since the operator allows imbibers to drink around the place, including under a
shelter at the establishment. The bottle store in question is of the same size
of a standard one-room and since a lot of space was taken by the stock, alcohol
beer quarts is sold through the window, while cases are sold via the door.
Enjoying
Imbibers, who were not wearing face masks, were found enjoying their alcoholic
beverages around the place and some of them were sitting outside in their cars
which were parked in front of the bottle store. This publication spent about
three hours at the premises of the bottle store and people were buying alcoholic
beverages as if it were a ‘normal day’. By normal day the reporter is
reffering to as if COVID-19 did not exist.
According to the sources, the bottle store had been operating every day since
government banned the sale of liquor early this year. They alleged that it
opened around 9am and closed late at night.  “On busy days, it closes after
midnight,” said one of the sources. Again, the sources who tipped off this
publication about the matter, said their concern was that they also found people
below the age of 18 years at the bottle store.  “We also find women
breastfeeding their babies while enjoying their alcoholic beverages,” claimed
one of the sources.
The sources alleged that the place was toxic to the community as there were
other businesses in the complex, which attracted young people, who then observed
things that were not good for their eyes and mind. In terms of COVID-19
protocols, the sources said no one monitored the wearing of face masks and that
social distancing was observed at all times. They added that there was also no
sanitiser or hand-washing facility and this publication confirmed this by
sending one of its staff members to ask to use the bathroom, which is not even
there. Again, this publication talked to some of the people who run businesses
next to the bottle store and they expressed a litany of concerns, including land
pollution. They said during their operation hours (during the day), the concern
they had was that the imbibers made noise for their customers, especially on
weekends.