Mbabane: Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini has cleared the King’s name which has been dragged into the alcohol ban on going fiasco.
The premier was responding to questions posed by editors during the PM/Editors Forum Breakfast Meeting held at Hilton Garden Inn on Thursday.
The premier refuted allegations that the King is having a huge influence on the continued ban of alcohol production, sale, and distribution. There are widespread rumours that the King manipulated the Covid-19 regulations to prolong the ban of alcohol in a bid to force Ab-InBev to shut down its production plant because he (King) wanted more shares.
Editors posed a question based on the rumours making rounds on social media that the King and other authorities might have a hand in the ban of alcohol to suffocate the Swaziland Beverages with intentions to take over the company.
The premier quashed that, calling it fake news, strongly warning the media not to be blown by things on social media, saying those things were made by people with the sole intensions to tarnish the image of the country and that of the authorities.
“The king and authorities should not take centre stage of the debate around the ban of alcohol”.
Dlamini welcomed the criticism on the alcohol ban and acknowledged the job losses that were looming at Eswatini Beverages. He reiterated that the decision to ban alcohol was solely on him and Cabinet, and the decision is taken with advice from stakeholders in the health sector especially, the epidemiologists.
The PM said currently they were looking at a report from health expects and stakeholders on the severity and consequences of opening alcohol. He noted that COVID-19 was still not over, adding that the link between its spread and alcohol can be debated, but as Cabinet they rely on experts advice.
He said once the report is done it will be presented and a decision will be taken.
Bheki Makhubu, Editor of The Nation Magazine wanted to know the major reason behind the alcohol ban.
“It is a government’s decision and position taken by Cabinet based on health experts’ advice. If there is anyone to blame for this decision, it is me and Cabinet,” he emphasised
The premier urged editors to be in the forefront in protecting the country’s image, saying as government, they wanted to be more transparent, hence hey were engaging the media and giving it firsthand information about the affairs of government.
Recently government hired a foreign agency, Vuma reputation management, a company based in South Africa to try and build the image of the country, and positioning Eswatini as a stable, peaceful investment destination.
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