Swazi Observer

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5 000 COMMUTERS LEFT STRANDED IN MANZINI

By Sifiso Nhlabatsi | 2020-03-31

MORE than 5 000 commuters were left stranded in Manzini yesterday after they were barred from boarding public transport by law enforcers.

The city, on a daily basis, is home to about 100 000 commuters who use the bus rank, according to Manzini Municipal Council Public Relations Officer Mathokoza Thwala.

Yesterday was the fourth day of the partial lockdown implemented by government in a bid to contain the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

Chores

Manzini was bustling with activity in the morning as people carried on with their daily chores in town as usual.

With yesterday marking the end of the month, some members of the public who had not gone to work decided to use the day as an opportunity to do their shopping.

However, law enforcers made sure that people adhered to the directive by Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini to stay at home and only go out when necessary.

The law enforcers took a tough stance after seeing that kombis and buses continued to ferry passengers to and from Manzini, way after the stipulated hours.

Minister of Public Works and Transport Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe on Sunday had stated that public transport must ferry passengers from 5am to 9am in the morning and from 3pm to 7pm in the afternoon.

Police

By 9:30am the police and officers from His Majesty’s Correctional Services were chucking out public transport vehicles from Manzini Bus Rank.

The kombis and buses left commuters stranded as police made it clear that no public transport should ferry passengers at that time.

After moving out of the Manzini bus rank, public transport drivers tried to create a makeshift bus rank just past Mzimnene River. however, their plan did not work as police had mounted roadblocks at roads leading to and out of town.

Those who were found aboard public transport were told to get off. A police officer who was manning a roadblock at Mhlaleni said the problem is that people were not taking the situation seriously.

He pointed to a group of commuters who were walking up the hills moving towards town.

The officer said this then makes them look like they are not doing their jobs. He said if people could just comply with a directive by the prime minister and stay at home, there would be no confusion.

Lanes

Along the Mbabane-Manzini Highway, police had mounted a massive roadblock at Mhlaleni on both lanes. Motorists were questioned what was their purpose of travelling. those who did not give convincing answers were turned back.

Some of the commuters interviewed claimed that they had to come to town to buy groceries.

They claimed that when the lockdown was announced, they had not received their salaries. They said as soon as they got paid, they hit town, but were disappointed when they were left stranded after doing their shopping.

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