NOISE POLLUTION KILLING TOURISM

 MBABANE – Some excessively loud noise coming from a liquor shop and a church has jeopardized tourism, prompting the Lubombo Conservancy (LC) to lodge complaints.

The noise affects wild animals and tourists who book into hotels and lodges situated in the area.

This was eventually investigated by the Eswatini Environmental Authority (EEA), which recommended that a fine was paid by the owner of the shop.
The complaints were basically around the loud noise which was frustrating tourists visiting the lodges around that area, more so because it went on throughout the night and at some point up to 6am.

In one of the letters directed to the Simunye Police, EEA and Siteki  Regional Secretary stated that, “The consequences of this noise pollution are not only the disturbance of the wildlife in the area, but it has led to complaints from tourists paying to stay within the conservancy,” said Tal Fineberg, the Mbuluzi Game Reserve Manager.

It further stated that the news of the severe noise pollution would spread and in the long term, damage not only the LC reputation but that of all of Eswatini’s conservation areas.

“This will mean an eventual loss of income affecting our business and many others in the country.  The LC, directly and indirectly employs a few hundred people. This employment income is fed back into the communities surrounding the conservancy,”

The Swazi News is in possession of copies of all the letters that were exchanged, including responses from EEA and the Regional Secretary.
“In the letter you did not elaborate on the noise from the church which you mention in your email.  The Regional Administrator’s office frowns at any element that adversely affects regional economic development, peace and stability,” the Regional Secretary identified as Nkambule wrote.

He further said the regional administration office would conduct its own investigation on this matter and bring it to the attention of relevant offices such as the Ministry of Commence and the Swaziland Environmental Authority for the Bottle Store as well as the Ministry of Home Affairs which regulates Churches in the country.

Inspections

After conducting two inspections, EEA gave hope to a possible solution when it responded to LC saying, “We have engaged with the owners of the property and matters of non-compliance have been dealt with accordingly. We commend you vigilance and remain available to assist the public.”

Fineberg, however, reported that there was no improvement, to which EEA responded, “During our investigations into the matter we were kindly advised that the matter should be dealt with by the Ministry Of Commerce and Trade under Liquor Licensing Board. We eventually handed the matter to the Lubombo Liquor Licensing Office,” read a letter that was signed by EEA Head of Environmental Impact Assessment, Sizwe Ndwandwe.

Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati said this was a complex issue and further invited the complainants over for discussions.
“Meanwhile, we will be closely monitoring the complaint. Otherwise we do have our side of the matter which we can only share with the complainants.”
Vilakati was reluctant to share why the police had not communicated their side to the complainants earlier on.

Chief Commercial Officer in the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Magenius Hlophe said the police should have taken the appropriate action on the matter as they are also part and parcel of the Liquor Act No 30 of 1964.

“Section 17 states that the police are key in the renewal or granting of liquor licences as they have to submit a report to the Liquor Board.”
The report influences the Board’s decision.

Hlophe said he was beginning to question their action in this matter because the Board may renewed the bar operator’s licence when he was not deserving.

He advised that LC and EEA take the matter a step further and submit their complaints to the Liquor Board for consideration between November and December when licences are reviewed.

“They will be categorised as residents,” he said.
Effort to get comment from EEA failed as they had not responded to a questionnaire that was sent to them on Wednesday, after a telephonic conversation with an officer there.

All this is happening at a time when government, in its strategic road map, seeks to rake in a lot of money through Tourism for the ultimate resuscitation of the country’s economy. 

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