COVID-19: Manzini Council Springs To Action
The Municipal Council of Manzini has developed an action plan that is aimed at combating the novel
coronavirus pandemic which is presently sweeping across the globe. With the City of Manzini being the most populous urban space in the Kingdom of Eswatini as a result of it being the geographic and trade hub of the country, its risk exposure is high. This calls for the Municipality, in partnership with the national Government and other relevant stakeholders, to proactively engage in robust preventative measures. The action plan has an internal and external focus.
FREE WATER, SOAP AT BUS RANK, OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY
The Municipality has provided running water and soap at the Manzini main bus rank, near Captain
Dorego shop. The service is free of charge and members of the public are urged to make use of it to
wash their hands as frequently as possible. A Council employee has been deployed on site to
educate members of the public on how to properly wash their hands. The Ministry of Health and
World Health Organisation has advised that one of the key measures to prevent Covid-19 is regular
washing of hands, keeping one’s hands off the mouth, nose and eyes, the use of alcohol-based
sanitisers, keeping a safe (1 metre) distance from the next person, refraining from handshake and
covering one’s mouth with tissue paper or flexed elbow when coughing or sneezing.
The Municipality implores Manzini citizens to heed these pieces of advice and by so doing escape the
virus. Running water and soap will soon be provided in other parts of the bus rank and as well as
other densely populated public areas citywide.
ROBUST PUBLIC EDUCATION TO BE ROLLED OUT
The Municipal Council of Manzini will engage all forms of media, traditional and non-traditional, for
awareness creation and dissemination of information regarding the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition
to radio, television and newspaper messages, educational posters will be pinned at the bus rank,
public open spaces, public toilets, along walkways (pavements), public transport vehicles and other
strategic areas in all townships. Messages will also be disseminated through billboards (digital and
print) bulk SMS, social media, door-to-door visits as well as loudhailer (mobile Public Address
system).
COVID-19 BUSINESS SENSITISATION SESSIONS
The Municipality has also developed a stakeholder engagement plan through which it aims to
sensitise the various segments of the Manzini business sector about Covid-19 prevention measures.
This will be done together with the Ministry of Health. The business sector has already been urged to
provide sanitisers for customers upon entry in their shops. They have also been implored to provide
wash soap, hand gloves, face masks and other support material for their employees. Working
together with the Royal Eswatini Police Services (REPS), daily inspections are being conducted to
ensure adherence to these preventative measures.
Owners of public properties such as shopping malls have been urged to provide hand wash basins and soap for use by the general members of the public. Public transport operators have also been sensitised about the pandemic and urged to provide protective material such as face masks and hand sanitisers for bus conductors and bus rank
marshals. They have also been urged to regularly sanitise their vehicles as well as ensure passengers
are hand sanitised upon boarding the vehicles. It has also been impressed that bus conductors
ensure vehicle windows are kept open. Churches have been implored to observe the maximum 50-
people ceiling during services, ensure congregants keep at least a one metre distance apart as well
as apply hand sanitisers on congregants.
The Municipality, working together with REPS, will conduct inspections and ensure compliance. Entertainment establishments will also be engaged and urged not only to observe the 50-persons maximum for gatherings but also provide prevention material such as running water, soap, hand sanitisers, gloves and face masks to their customers and employees. Regular inspections will be carried out by the REPS to ensure compliance. The business
sector is reminded that cooperation is critical if the city is to escape the pandemic.
CUSTOMERS URGED TO MINIMISE VISITS TO CIVIC OFFICES
Pay rates by EFT, Mobile Money, Debit Order, report service faults through Call Centre
The Municipality urges customers to minimise their visit to the civic centre. Property owners and
other stakeholders who need to pay rates and Council user fees are urged to make use of available
non-cash rates payment mechanisms such as Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), MTN Mobile Money
and debit order transactions. The Municipality has accounts with Nedbank, Standard Bank and First
National Bank. The rates tariff for the next financial year (which starts on the 1 st April 2020) has been
approved.
This means ratepayers who wish to pay even before they receive the rates bills can now
get information from the Rates Hall (2508 5048/2508 5054) about the rates payable and pay right
away. Alternatively they may contact the Finance Director on 7602 2057. Informal traders are also
urged to pay user fees through Mobile Money. Residents and other members of the public are urged
to continue utilising the Municipality’s 24/7 Call Centre (800 2004/2505 7000) for purposes of
reporting service delivery requirements. Alternatively, they may use the Municipality’s Facebook
platform (Manzini News), email (pro@mzcitycouncil.sz) and SMS or WhatsApp (7802 3889). Council
makes an undertaking that every service request will be given the due attention it deserves.
The following are the banking details:
- NEDBANK
A/C NAME: Municipal Council of Manzini
ACCOUNT: 040000001308
BRANCH: Manzini
BRANCH CODE: 360264
YOUR REF: Account/Plot no. & Township
– - FIRST NATIONAL BANK
A/C NAME: Municipal Council of Manzini
ACCOUNT: 62770574434
BRANCH: Manzini
BRANCH CODE: 282064
YOUR REF: Account/Plot No. & Township
– - STANDARD BANK
A/C NAME: Municipal Council of Manzini
ACCOUNT: 9110001190655
BRANCH: Manzini
BRANCH CODE: 660564
YOUR REF: Account/Plot No. & Township
– - MOBILE MONEY:
*007# Select 1(send money), Select 4 (Town Council), Select 1(Manzini City Council), Select
1(Rates), Input account number (eight digit number that starts with 1,2,or3 only), enter desired Amount.
DAILY COVID-19 INFORMATION DESK AT BUS RANK
In partnership with Business Eswatini and Matsapha-based private company, Southern Star Logistics,
the Municipality has entered into a Public Private Partnership that will ensure availability of an
information desk at the Manzini main bus rank. The information centre was officially launched last
Friday and is already operational. Members of the public are urged to visit the information desk so
that they can be empowered with information about the coronavirus. Temperature monitors, hand
gloves, face masks, hand sanitising services and Covid-19 information brochures are available at the
information centre. Council would like to reiterate that adherence to prevention pieces of advice
and behaviour change are of essence during this difficult time of the pandemic. Temperature
monitors will also be available at the recreational parks, LaMvelase Help Centre, Filter Clinic and the
Manzini main market.
PLAN TO DECONGEST VENDING SITES UNDERWAY
The Municipality is working on a strategy to decongest the Manzini Main Market, Bend N’ Pick
second hand clothing market and the Satellite Thursday Market whilst also ensuring minimal
disruption to business. The strategy will be carried out in consultation with the informal traders.
Members of the public will be informed as soon as this intervention is finalised. At the moment,
informal traders are urged to apply all the precautionary measures that are being issued by the
Ministry of Health; ensuring that themselves and their customers are protected from the pandemic.
COUNCIL EMPLOYEE, CUSTOMER SAFETY CRITICAL
Robust precautionary measures already being rolled out internally
In an effort to ensure Covid-19 protection of employees and customers, the Municipality is already
rolling out robust preventative measures within the organisation. These have been preceded by an
all-staff sensitisation session about the virus and preventative measures. A task team has been
established to coordinate Council’s response to the pandemic; both internally and externally. Covid-
19 protective gear has been provided to frontline employees. Hand sanitisers are regularly applied
on employees and they are urged to regularly wash their hands with running water and soap for at
least 20 seconds.
Customers who visit the civic centre are also required to hand sanitise at the
reception area before entering the offices. Door handles, office furniture and ablution facilities are
disinfected on an hourly basis. Information dissemination about the virus happens regularly and
employees are encouraged to visit the doctor as soon as they observe symptoms of the virus and
thereafter self-quarantine. Employees have also been urged to avoid large gatherings; even outside
the workplace. They have also been discouraged from unnecessary travel; within and out of the
country. In fact, those who may have found themselves compelled to travel outside the country
have been urged to notify the employer upon their return. Council’s desire is for all employees to
remain safe from the virus.
IT’S EARTH HOUR WEEK: PLEASE SWITCH OFF THIS SATURDAY
Citizens of Manzini are reminded that this is earth hour week. Therefore, they are encouraged to
switch off electricity for at least one hour this Saturday; between 8:30pm and 9:30pm. The
Municipality urges citizens to adopt an energy saving culture even beyond the earth hour period.
Citizens are urged to switch off the lights when not in use, use natural light as much as possible,
switch off all electrical appliances when not in use, use energy saving light bulbs and invest in solar
energy. This will not only save household or business costs as well as minimise the possibility of load
shedding but will also help protect the environment.
