DPM LAUNCHES OPERATION BOPHA, SAYS; IYOLALA IBONENE!

MBABANE – “Iyolala ibonene (woe unto you).”

The above is a strong warning issued by the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM), Themba Masuku, when he launched ‘Operation Bopha (arrest)’ yesterday. 

The DPM even threatened to close down some industries if members of the public continued to behave recklessly. During a press conference held at the DPM’s Office, Masuku said government was witnessing the highest level of complacency ever experienced since COVID-19 first hit the country in March 2020. 

“People continue to blatantly disregard COVID-19 health protocols, by refusing to wear masks appropriately, allowing reasonable social distancing and sanitising properly,” said Masuku.

Situation 

He said as a result, they had to launch ‘Operation Bopha’ to curtail the situation.  

He said the campaign comprised of all key stakeholders in the COVID-19 fight; which include the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Ministry of Justice, security forces and the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), among others. 

“This operation tightens the enforcement of the regulations that this government has passed recently,” said Masuku. 

He said they were targeting all emaSwati and residents who continued to flout the COVID-19 health protocols and that already a team of inspectors and security forces were moving around countrywide to arrest, on sight, anyone who continued to put the lives of other people at risk. 

 Some places, according to Masuku, had been shut down and some people arrested for flouting the regulations. 

He said the operation also covered business establishments, particularly those selling liquor and allowing people to congregate and consume alcohol at the liquor outlets. 

Masuku said he was shocked at the manner in which people were recklessly consuming alcohol. 

“During a visit to Buhleni recently, I was shocked at the way people were consuming alcohol without adhering to the set guidelines. Places like Madlangempisi and Luve had people drinking alcohol in an unbecoming manner,” he said. 

Though he did not specifically state that liquor could be banned again, he said if people continued in this manner, government would be forced to take stern decisions.

 “Gatherings and alcohol consumption continue unabated, as if things are still normal,” said Masuku. He stated that thereafter people would complain about the hard decisions that government would be forced to take yet they were the ones behaving badly.

The DPM did not only touch on imbibers, but said even some churches continued breaching the COVID-19 regulations. 

Churches 

“Churches continue to worship beyond the stipulated two and a half hours and church leaders still pray for people by laying hands, while worshippers refuse to wear masks,” said Masuku.  

The DPM further strongly warned against the hosting of crossover parties as the country ushered into the new year at midnight. 

“I suggest you do virtual crossovers as people can see each other using their smartphones,” he stated.  

He further stated that swimming pools were teeming with throngs of people while community sporting activities still continued in some places. 

“Public transport operators still wear masks when they see a roadblock ahead as if they were doing the police a favour or doing government a favour,” he said.   Masuku said government was protecting the nation and, therefore, expected it to respond appropriately. 

He reminded emaSwati that the country was dealing with a serious enemy. 

“COVID-19 is no child’s play, it is deadly. Families lose their loved ones daily and our friends and acquaintances are hospitalised every day due to COVID-19,” said Masuku. 

He stated that the country’s health facilities were filling up rapidly; and yet, some people still behaved recklessly. 

“We cannot continue like this; because if we do, we risk wiping away the entire Eswatini population and future generations with it,” he said. 

Masuku added that it was everyone’s responsibility to protect themselves and their loved ones. 

Protect 

“We also need to protect our frontline workers, including health workers, security forces, essential services workers and other support staff,” said Masuku. 

The DPM said government could only do so much and the rest was up to the people to take full responsibility as individuals to survive the pandemic. 

“We should adopt the ‘Me First’ principle so that we can save the nation. The principle will have a domino effect on the success of our fight against COVID-19,” said Masuku.

The DPM said he was hopeful that as more and more people faced the consequences of their actions, they would become more responsible as individuals and establishments. 

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