ASIAN BUSINESSES LOSE UP TO E1BN

MBABANE – The Asian business community has suffered a loss of about E800 million to E1 billion due to the looting and vandalism of their properties during the pro-democracy protests.

The Asian businesspeople were running businesses such as grocery stores, clothing shops and car dealerships, and most of their businesses were vandalised and looted across the country. Some of the car dealerships that were affected include Logoba Motor Centre Swaziland, where 44 cars were burnt and the loss was said to be in excess of E3.5 million as spares and material was gutted by the fire. HB Motors at Sobhuza, just before Nazarene traffic lights, had 92 cars torched, resulting in losses estimated at over E10 million. A number of grocery shops that were located in towns and their outskirts were also torched after being looted. Those that were not burnt have been closed since. In a statement issued by the Asian business community, they are calling upon government to mitigate the financial loss. They said they wanted government to help them, both as investors and people who loved the country dearly.

Violence

They said they also wanted to add their voice to the calls for talks between government and those who were calling for change, so there could be an end to the violence and the people of Eswatini go back to enjoying what the country could offer. “Over the last few days, we have witnessed unprecedented scenes of violence, hooliganism and looting,” reads the statement. They said their shops had been emptied by violent protestors who went on a rampage to destroy and burn down some businesses. They said the businesses belonged to local and foreign investors, who had spent their hard-earned monies to run them and witnessing the looting and destruction was painful and difficult. They said many of them came to Eswatini to invest due to its beautiful climate and peaceful nature. “We invested in this country and its people and became part of it,” reads the statement.

They also acknowledged that the protestors were fighting their political cause but the businesspeople, who provided jobs, helped to boost the economy and made contributions to the society, especially to the less privileged. “In this way we can say that we understand fully the level of poverty in this country and share in any efforts to help improve the lives of the people of this country,” reads the statement. The Asian businesspeople said this had to be done in respectful ways of the laws of the country, and where there were protests, be done in a peaceful manner. They said the people could not destroy an economy that had been built using the same money and taxes of the people. “We cannot destroy the same economy that will help feed this country tomorrow,” they added.

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