Times Of Swaziland: OPERATIONS AT MBABANE CBD NORMAL

OPERATIONS AT MBABANE CBD NORMAL
================================================================================
Nhlanganiso Mkhonta on 09/08/2022 15:53:00


MBABANE – For the better part of the day yesterday, operations at the Mbabane
Central Business District (CBD) were relatively normal.
Public transport was available since morning. However, buses servicing the
Mbabane – Nhlangano route were not available, only kombis were available for
that route. The public transport workers said they noted a decline in the number
of customers they usually serviced, especially considering that it was a Monday.
They also noted that the early release of pupils from schools affected their
business as in the afternoon they were left with a few people. They also
indicated that they were aware of the threats such that they were working very
cautiously and if anything happened, they would have parked their vehicles.
“We are glad that so far everything is fine,” said one of the drivers. The
driver said despite the threats they had to work to make ends meet. He also said
even though they wanted political change, they still had to earn a living. It
was also noted that despite the threats, there was less police presence. A few
police officers would be seen patrolling the streets while some were
strategically positioned at the industrial site and other parts of the CBD. Some
of the officers were armed. Most shops were opened for operations for the better
part of the day and customers would be seen going in and out of the shops
without any struggle. Some of the shop owners interviewed by this publication
said they opened despite the threats but they were very cautious, such that
should anything have happened, they would have closed immediately. Some
consumers, who were interviewed on the streets randomly, said they were aware of
the threats but at the same time they needed to buy groceries for their
families. They said they would buy what they needed and leave.