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IT’S WAIT AND SEE FOR LIQUOR TRADERS

12/10/2020 00:16:00 BY MELISA MSWELI

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MBABANE – ‘Sitova ngaye.’

The above statement, which means we will only confirm once he says it sums up sentiments that were shared by members of the Swaziland National Liquor Association (SNLA) and liquor business owners who said they had been yearning and promised the lifting of the alcohol ban, but there has not been any positive feedback from government. This is after the Prime Minister, Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini, announced on Saturday that he would deliver good news to the nation at 10am yesterday at the Cabinet Offices. However, the press conference was later shifted to today, at noon. Following the promise of ‘good news’ announcement by the PM, the Times SUNDAY, through its reliable sources, established that the good news were centred on the lifting of the alcohol ban. Also members of the public have the same anticipation as they are expecting the PM to lift the ban.

Announcement

When interviewed, SNLA Secretary General Thamsanqa Hlatshwayo said they would not get excited about the announcement of the lifting of the ban but would only accept it once it had finally happened. He said it was long overdue and thinking about the loss they had already made, they did not find anything merry about it.

He explained that they had a lot of debts that they needed to settle before they could enjoy profits and that was something that would happen in a space of a year or two.

He stated that they had rentals of about E25 000 that they had to back- pay should the alcohol ban be lifted, while adding that they did not just want the reopening of alcohol but needed certainty.

“If the ban will be lifted, we need assurance as we will go and stock which means more money and it would be of no use to stock up and be stuck with the stock if the ban will be effected again,” he said.

Upsurge

Hlatshwayo said they were also hoping to be informed of how alcohol caused the upsurge of COVID-19 cases while he consistently said they did not even believe that the good news was alcohol-related.

He made mention of the July 1, 2020 ban, where he said they were promised that the ban would be for two months but then there was an extension of a month and it also elapsed without a word from the PM.

In an interview with Nkosinathi Mahlalela, who owns White House Liquor Store in Siteki, he said a lot of businesses had shut down and they would not have money to reopen should the ban be lifted.

He stated that they were hopeless and were looking forward to meetings, should the PM lift the booze ban, to find out if they would receive help. “We lost hope after the PM said he was extending the ban,” added Mahlalela.

He said they were hoping to get a relief fund from government or even the relevent people to negotiate on their behalf for them to get stock and continue selling.