‘OPERATION BOPHA’ NABS COZY CORNER LIQUOR OUTLETS OPERATORS

MBABANE – Businesspeople are already being nabbed by the ‘Operation Bopha’ team.

Yesterday saw two businesspeople at Cozy Corner summoned to the police station, following alleged violation of COVID-19 regulations.

The duo, who run a bottle store and a bar at the shopping complex, were summoned to explain why they had allowed customers to consume alcohol around the establishment when it was against the regulations.

Director Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Acting Chief Commercial Officer Mluleki Dlamini, said they would engage the businessmen on the issue of their licences as the offences were serious. 

Worrying 

Dlamini said it was worrying that members of the public continued to consume alcohol outside the establishments which sold the liquor. 

However, he said they were faced with a challenge as most of the customers claimed they had not bought the alcohol at the establishments and had come with it to the business centre, which was their preferred spot.

 “We still insist that alcohol is only allowed for home consumption,” said Dlamini. He said they had realised that people continued to violate the regulations and the next step would be arresting them. According to Dlamini, from today onwards, there would be no negotiations but arrests would be effected on all who violated the regulations, including the business establishments and their customers. “The next step is arresting people who will be found drinking at the establishments which sell liquor,” he said.

National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Russell Dlamini, said government would tighten screws in ensuring that there was full compliance with the COVID-19 regulations aimed at protecting the nation. 

Guidelines 

He stated that the different arms of government, including Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS), Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force, Ministry of Commerce and NDMA were out to ensure there was no breaching of the guidelines. This, he said, would see the withdrawal of licences for business owners and arrests. 

On another note, Superintendent Khulani Mamba emphasised on the issue of churches, saying they should adhere by avoiding crossover services. He made it clear that should they be discovered, the pastor and church committees would be arrested. Mamba said as early as 7am, they would be on the ground patrolling.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: