‘STOKVEL’ HOSTS ARRESTED, FINED!

KAMAZOMBIZWE – Police have finally arrested, charged and fined organisers of the Ka-Mazombizwe ‘stokvel’ for contravening the COVID-19 regulations as outlined by Eswatini Government.

The law enforcers have been on the lookout for the offenders after they defied an order from the country’s authorities not to organise social tournaments otherwise known as ‘stokvels’, staging a tournament involving three teams at Ka-Mazombizwe Mahlandle sports ground last Saturday.

This was before police were alerted about these games and when they arrived at the ground, the organisers vanished into thin air along with members of the participating teams.

However, the long arm of the law has caught up with them, as confirmed by National Commissioner of Police  William Dlamini to this publication. “Organisers and teams that took part during the stokvel at KaMazombiwe last week Saturday were finally apprehended by police and made to pay for their sins.

The organisers were sentenced to two years in prison with an option of a E5 000 fine. The representatives of the three teams were each given a year jail term if they failed to pay the fine of E1 000 each,” Dlamini said. For the record, the maximum fine for breaching such rules, stands at E25 000.

The organisers and teams did not only put their own lives in danger but they also defied the new COVID-19 regulations that were put forth by government.
Dlamini was quoted by this publication on Wednesday saying they would get the report on who organised the tournament and effect an arrest, something they managed to achieve two days later. Dlamini further urged the nation to adhere to government’s COVID-19 regulations especially because world organisations and the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs have warned people against gathering for sports activities.

“We urge emaSwati to show respect regarding regulations pertaining to the coronavirus prevention. People are now putting the name of sports into disrepute as it appears people in sports are defiant,” he said.  Section 25 (1) of the coronavirus regulations makes it clear that in order to contain the spread of the virus, a gathering of more than 20 people is prohibited.

Offence

It further provides that a person who contravenes a provision of the regulations commits an offence and shall on conviction be liable to a maximum fine of E25 000 or a term of imprisonment not exceeding two years.

Information sourced was that the teams had each contributed a joining fee which was to be later used as prizes for winners. Some of the teams were reportedly from Siteki while others were from the area where the games were played.

The game started at around 2pm and had about 60 people gathered at the ground, proceeding to second half time before police arrived as all hell broke loose with everyone at the ground running away. Some ran towards neighbouring homesteads while others went straight to the nearby forest in a bid to avoid arrest.

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