VENDORS ACCUSE CHURCH OF DEMOLISHING THEIR MARKET STALLS

MANZINI- Mathangeni vendors are not happy after they woke up to a demolished market structure situated outside the triple-storey building of the Pentecost Church.

The vendors are of the view that the structure was purportedly demolished by the church leader, who allegedly pulled down about eight structures from April to date. According to the vendors, they woke up on Sunday morning to a demolished structure, which was in front of the state-of-the-art church building at Mathangeni. “We found the market upside down and this is after the pastor of the church approached the owner of the market stall about a week ago to move,” the vendors narrated. According to the vendors, the owner of the stall requested a court order from the man of the cloth, as they maintained a belief that they were operating at the right place, which was about 20 metres away from the church structure.

They expressed their discontent on finding the structure demolished without a court document. Another vendor disclosed that he was removed in April after the clergyman ordered him to move, as the area he was trading on belonged to him. The vendor was of the view that in his own understanding, they were operating on Eswatini Nation Land (ENL). Upon finding another structure damaged, the vendors narrated that two of them then went to report the matter at the Matsapha Police Station, Sigodvweni. They supposed that they were advised to open a case against the pastor. Currently, they said they had found alternative places to display their wares.Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati said there was no report of the matter. Meanwhile, when drawn for comment, Pastor Mfanasibili Nkambule of the Pentecost Church, politely declined to comment until he could seek advice from his lawyer. “I am still going to consult with my lawyer, may I kindly not comment until I get advice accordingly,” Nkambule said.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: