GOVT URGES EMASWATI TO RETURN TO WORK

MBABANE – It’s back to work!

This was the call made by the Acting Prime Minister, Themba Masuku, yesterday during a press conference held at the Cabinet Offices. Masuku said all emaSwati should continue to drive the economy by returning to work and opening all businesses that were unaffected by the violence that engulfed the country in the past week. A majority of businesses, including government employees, had stopped going to work with others closing their businesses for their safety following pro-democracy protests that were hijacked by looters and vandals. Various property was set ablaze while many shops were looted. About 5 000 jobs could be lost while businesses suffered a collective loss of about E3 billion. “Government is happy to note that the situation on the ground has stabilised over the past few days, as our security forces have resolutely ensured the maintenance of peace and order across the four regions of the country,” he said. The acting PM said security forces would continue to be vigilant in ensuring the safety of the public, businesses and other property.     

 Curfew

Masuku highlighted though that the curfew remained, from 6pm to 5am and that offices should close at 3:30pm to allow workers to arrive home safely in time for the curfew. He reminded companies to continue to be in full compliance with COVID-19 regulations. Masuku said as citizens of Eswatini and the region, everyone shared the responsibility to never engage in any activity that negated the strides made to improve the lives of the people, no matter how different the standpoint may be at any particular time. “The unacceptable damage to government and private property perpetrated by looters is now well into billions of Emalangeni, causing a major setback to the country’s socio-economic growth and stability,” he said. He reiterated that the current estimate revealed that the cost of damage stood at about E3 billion, with 5 000 jobs lost and counting.

“Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) were also not spared by these looters, as approximately 1 000 small businesses were affected,” he said.  Masuku said this came at a time when the country and the world was engaging broad strategies to ignite job creation and spur our economies on a path of sustainable growth. The government further assured all emaSwati, the international community, diplomatic partners and residents of Eswatini, that they would do everything necessary to ensure public safety as life returned to normal. He discouraged the public from panic buying and gave assurance that they were making all moves to ensure there was enough supply in shops at all times. He said they continued to rely on all emaSwati to do the right thing and fiercely guard against any foreign elements meant to destabilise the country and threaten harmony.

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