BOTTLE STORE COVID-19 RULES BREACH: SOLDIER ARRESTED

MANZINI – A soldier has been arrested in connection with the breach of COVID-19 protocols by a bottle store in Siteki.

Amahle Bottle Store’s was found breaching COVID-19 regulations. Amahle Bottle Store is the liquor store at KaMzilikazi, Siteki in the Lubombo Region which was alleged to be selling alcohol every day and operated beyond the stipulated trading hours. According to a source close to the matter, after this publication visited the bottle store and sought a comment from the police, a team of police officers was given a task to investigate the allegations. As a result, the source said the law enforcers visited the establishment on the night of the National Flag Day (Monday) as part of their investigations and they alleged that they found it operating. Upon their arrival, the source alleged that the team of police officers dispersed the imbibers whom they found enjoying their favourite drinks at the premises of the bottle store and closed it.

He said yesterday morning the police officers paid another visit to the bottle store in question to continue with their investigation and they found people enjoying alcoholic beverages at the premises of the bottle store, an act which was against the COVID-19 rules and regulations. It is worth noting that so far, alcohol is only sold for home consumption. Thereafter, the source said the law enforcers looked for the holder of the trading licence, who was the soldier and they arrested him. He said they arrested him because his business allowed people to buy alcoholic beverages and enjoy it at its premises. However, the source mentioned that the police were still investigating the other allegations which they got as part of the tip-off.

Chief Police information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed that there was a man who was arrested for allowing people to drink at the premises of his bottle store. It is worth mentioning that during the lockdown, the bottle store was found operating more like a bar as customers were allowed to enjoy their drinks around the place. Again, during a visit to the place, this publication noted that imbibers, who were not wearing face masks, were enjoying their alcoholic beverages some of who were sitting outside their cars which were parked in front of the bottle store.

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; sometimes after midnight. Another allegation was that underage people were also found at the premises, yet liquor licences stipulated that people under the age of 18 years should not be allowed at liquor stores. 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), their concern was imbibers who made noise for their customers, especially on weekends.

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