LAST MINUTE SHOPPING IN MANZINI

MANZINI - Mad rush!  This best describes the situation at the City of Manzini yesterday. 
Following that yesterday was the last day before government’s decision to reverse the relaxed partial lockdown into a strengthened one which commenced today; long queues were seen outside various shopping outlets in Manzini, as people were buying items such as groceries in bulk in anticipation of the strict partial lockdown which restricts movement of people.

Sindi Malinga, who was found queuing outside one of the reputable shopping outlets in Manzini, said she wanted to buy food in bulk to last her for the duration of the partial lockdown in order to avoid a situation whereby she would run out of food and not be in a position to purchase it.

   
Queues

Buses and kombis were not spared from the long queues as members of the public were seemingly in a rush to return to their various destinations to ensure that they did not find themselves in a predicament whereby the partial lockdown came into effect only to find them miles away from their places of abode.
This was evident at the Manzini Bus Rank, where a sizeable number of people were seen queuing in readiness to board public transport. 

 A certain man, who preferred to remain anonymous, said the reason he was in a hurry to board a bus was because his parental home was situated in Nhlangano and he rented a flat in Manzini because he was employed in one of the car dealerships situated in town.

He pointed out that given the start of the strict partial lockdown which commenced today, he found himself with no other alternative but to return home given that his company is classified as a non-essential service and would therefore be closed.        
Members of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) also emerged after being absent ever since government implemented a relaxed partial lockdown, as they were seen in different streets of the city. 

Some of the law enforcers from UEDF, in collaboration with officers from Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) and His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS), were seen already warning members of the public to comply with the COVID-19 regulations by returning to their various places of abode, particularly if their reason of being around town was not valid.

Liquor outlets were also flooded by a magnitude of people who were eager to purchase their favourite beverages before the commencement of the partial lockdown today. Testament to that was the fact that a majority of the liquor outlets, which were visited by this reporter, confirmed that they had run out of stock as people were buying alcohol in bulk in preparation for the commencement of the partial lockdown.     

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