MINISTRY OF COMMERCE, INDUSTRY AND TRADE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ESWATINI COVID-19 ESSENTIAL SERVICES AS REGULATED

Mbabane, Eswatini – Subsequent to the statement by His Excellency Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini on the 1^st April 2020, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade hereby prescribes the essential indutries that will continue to operate during the period of the partial lockdown.

This is an attempt to mitigate the spread of the global pandemic that is COVID-19 and is line with the requirements of Section 23 Sub-section 1 of the Corona Virus (COVID-19) Regulations 2020; which says “the Minister responsible for Commerce shall prescribe essential industries which may continue to operate during the national emergency”.

For those trading with our neighbours South Africa, they should note that South Africa has imposed further restrictions on their trade regulations and will, therefore, not accept any trade in non-essential goods

All businesses and entities that are not involved in the manufacturing, supply or provision of essential goods or services shall, from Friday the 3^rd April 2020, cease to operate for the duration of the partial lockdown.

The essential services are as follows:

1. 1. Food and Agriculture; which includes:

• Those involved in the food value chain

2. 2. Retail and consumer goods suppliers, which include:

• Consumer Goods suppliers
• Food Retailers e.g. food outlets, raw material suppliers and farmers
• Those involved in the transportation, logistics and packaging of consumer goods
• Other Retail Goods that support the medical industry e.g. bedding, linen and emergency clothing for hospitals, health workers and those caring for the sick

3. 3. Network Infrastructure; which include:

• Water, waste water and sanitation
• Electricity suppliers
• Renewable Energy suppliers
• Gas suppliers
• Fuel suppliers
• Law enforcement
• Defence, Safety and Security
• Waste disposal
• Fire and Emergency services
• Mining and power stations

4. 4. Medical and Health; which include:

• Hospitals
• Devices and Equipment
• Pharmaceuticals
• Funders
• Doctors, nurses, paramedics e.t.c.

5. 5. Forestry and Sawmills

• For the production of disposable, health and hygiene products including toilet paper as well as for packaging for food and the health supply chain.

6. 6. IT Systems and Telecommunications
7. 7. Finance and Insurance
8. 8. Tourism and Hospitality
9. 9. Communications e.g. Media
10. 10. Hardware Shops
11. 11. Public Transport and cross-border trade transport

• These will operate under the guidelines that Government has issued.
• For cross-border transport, this will be restricted to essential services as defined in Eswatini, South Africa and Mozambique

All essential services are still required to adhere to the directives and guidelines issued in respect of hygiene conditions and limitations of exposure to persons with COVID-19 in terms of Section 23 Sub-section 2 of the COVID-19 Regulations 2020.

These include the limitation of gatherings to 20, the practice of social distancing and the disinfection of work spaces and trolleys as well as sanitisation of workers and consumers.

Released by:

Senator Manqoba B. Khumalo

Honourable Minister for Commerce, Industry and Trade

2^nd April 2020