OPEN BABY CLOTHING SHOPS – MUMS

 MBABANE – The desperation for expectant and new mothers for their babies to have warm and decent clothes continues to thicken.

After clothing shops were closed on March 27, mothers, their relatives and friends have been finding it hard to buy clothes for unborn and newborn babies. As the mothers continue feeling the wave of frustration, they wonder why clothing shops, especially those that sell baby clothes, are not listed under essential services.

Meanwhile, other entities’ doors were open by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade yesterday.

 Closed

It is worth noting that bottle stores are still operating legally in the country, while clothing shops that sell baby clothes are closed.
The plight has become worse such that a doctor at the maternity ward in one of the hospitals in the country, has invited donations for baby clothes people do not need.

The doctor’s social media post read that due to the lockdown, no clothing stores were open and there were newborn babies with no clothes. A cellphone number and venue where the clothes could be dropped off was issued.
According to statistics, the months between March to May are known to have high delivery rates.

In 2019, there were about 31 000 recorded pregnancies and 28 000 deliveries in those months only.
This basically means if the closure of clothing shops persists, clothing donations for blankets and other related baby gear would be needed for over 25 000 babies.

In the meantime, South Africa is also in the same predicament, with expectant and new mothers worried sick over what their babies born during the lockdown will wear.
South Africa’s lockdown commenced on the midnight of March 26 and would run for 21 days.

According to The Star, the Tebeila Institute of Leadership and the African Institute of Human Rights and Constitutional Litigation are taking up the plight of these mothers and mothers-to-be.

They have applied for the court’s permission to approach it directly with the stated urgent issue and subsequently issue an order that stores selling baby clothes operate with immediate effect during the lockdown.

Shops

Last week, this publication reported that clothing shops were closed as part of the partial lockdown as they were not listed under essential services. Some of these shops, mainly franchises include Edcon shops, PEP and others.
The partial lockdown is one of the national emergency measures that the kingdom embarked on to mitigate the coronavirus pandemic spread.

It is a known norm that expectant and new mothers frequent clothing shops, buying clothes for their unborn and or ever-growing newborn babies. Also, interviews with expectant and new mothers were conducted and they expressed their worry on where they would get baby clothes since the shops were closed.

Ayanda Mvubelo, an expectant mother who is due on April 15, said she bought a few baby items in preparation of her unborn baby.
“The items were only a few as I had hoped to buy more the week of my due date. I do not have everything I need for the baby,” said Mvubelo.
She said her deepest fear was that her baby would not have enough clothes to wear if the baby was born before the partial lockdown had elapsed. I foresee a worst case scenario for us mothers if the lockdown is extended,” she said.

Nokwanda Nkosi from Mbabane, a mother to a one-month-old baby, echoed Mvubelo’s sentiments on clothing shops being closed.
“Clothes of newborn babies are never enough as they grow daily. I had made a lay-by for some clothing items for her and under these circumstances, I wonder if I will get them anytime soon,” said Nkosi.

When asked if she had any plans to mitigate the situation, she said she had none.
“I am just praying for the best,” she said. The two are among many mothers who pleaded that baby clothing shops should open, even if it was for limited numbers.

Outcry

Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade Communications Officer Thabile Mdluli, said the ministry was aware of the outcry that the mothers-to-be and new mothers had.
“We are still under discussions in how we can ensure that their outcry is heard and acted upon. Their concerns are genuine and we need to review the closure of clothing shops- especially those with baby clothing and other related baby essentials,” said Mdluli.

She said mothers should be on the look out and listen to the radio or read newspapers for updates on the matter.

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