By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MANKAYANE:David Madlopha,the Mankayane Town Board Chief Executive Officer(CEO) has warned all street vendors to stay at home this coming Friday except for those with special permits.

The Mankayane street vendors have been informed that, those who will defy the directive will face the police and soldiers to be deployed in the town demanding to see trading permits.

But those who were successful in being selected to trade during the King’s birthday, were summoned to attend a meeting that was held on Monday morning at the Mankayane Education Centre.

“Following your registration to place a stall during the King’s Birthday celebration,you are hereby invited to a meeting to be held on Monday at Mankayane Education Centre from 10am.The agenda is to discuss working arrangement and allocation of vendor spaces”, reads a message sent to the about fifty(50) street vendors who were selected to trade during the King’s Birthday.

It has been disclosed that,some informal traders who had prepared stock to sell on the big day but failed to secure permits, have been warned to stay at home as security officers will be strict.

“I am one of those who secured the permit but I’m not happy because others were warned not to come and trade as security officers will stop them”, said one of the informal traders.

Police Spokesperson Superintendent Phindile Vilakati had not responded at the the time of compiling this report.

Reached for comments by this publication,King Mswati’s Spokesperson Percy Simelane said,he was not aware if the street vendors will be harassed as the police don’t report to the King’s Office in their line of duty.

“Police dont bounce their duty operations with the King’s Office.They engage on it purely as they professionally deem necessary. They normally do not even report to the King's Office after their operations because by virtue of being law enforcement event agents and agents of national security they do not owe anybody any explanation why referred a certain sweeping operation”, said the King’s Spokesperson.

When asked by this Swaziland News on Tuesday afternoon to clarify if the street vendors will be harassed during the King’s Birthday, David Madlopha, the Mankayane Town Board Chief Executive Officer(CEO) denied knowledge of the matter, he referred comments to the Communications Officer of  the street vendors.

“Good Day Nkhosi.We are not aware of such and may you please contact their respective Communication Officers,” said the Mankayane Chief Executive Officer(CEO).

Efforts to reach Mathokoza Sikhondze,the Coordinator of the Eswatini Informal Traders,proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.

King Mswati,an absolute Monarch,will be celebrating his 56th birthday on Friday this week at Mankayane Sports Ground.