The Ministry of Commerce Industry and Trade says it was not consulted before over 10 liquor outlets were closed by the Mbabane Municipal Council.
This was a response by the ministry, which was tabled by the portfolio committee Deputy Chairperson Lindiwe Mamba in Parliament yesterday.
The response was addressing concerns by Kwaluseni Member of Parliament (MP) Sifiso Shongwe regarding why some liquor outlets were closed by the Mbabane Municipality when others operating within the same area were left uninterrupted.
The MP had raised his concerns during the debate of the ministry’s annual performance report for the financial year 2025/26. He had informed the portfolio committee that the municipality had used health inspection reports as the basis for closing the establishments.
However, he questioned why one establishment was closed while another, operating within the same vicinity, was allowed to continue operating.
The liquor outlets that the MP was referring to were those whose licences were reportedly not renewed by the Liquor Licensing Board, which is a division under the ministry of commerce, industry and trade.
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Most of the affected businesses were located in residential areas such as Fonteyn, Sandla and the Sidwashini vicinity, where zoning regulations prohibit certain categories of liquor trading unless proper rezoning approval has been secured.
While the businesses had already been informed earlier that their licences would not be renewed, the enforcement action recently brought the issue sharply into public view. For many patrons, the closures came as an unwelcome disruption to routine.
It had been reported that the affected traders were formally informed that their licence renewal applications would not be approved prior to the closures.
“The ministry was not consulted by the Mbabane Municipal Council regarding the closure of the liquor establishments in question. The ministry did not receive any formal communication or health inspection report outlining the reasons for the closure,” reads the ministry’s response.
It added that as these actions fell within the administrative and regulatory functions of the municipality, it was not in a position to explain the basis upon which one establishment was closed while another in the same vicinity was allowed to continue operating.
“The ministry will, however, engage with the Mbabane Municipality to seek clarification on the matter, including the criteria used in implementing such closures, and will provide feedback once the necessary information has been obtained,” responded the ministry.
Also, Gilgal MP Sifiso Gadlela noted that several liquor establishments were initially closed in Matsapha and more recently in Mbabane. He inquired how the portfolio committee could assist the ministry in addressing this matter.
In response, the ministry appreciated the MP for highlighting the issue of liquor establishment closures in both Matsapha and Mbabane.
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The ministry noted the concern and welcomed the committee’s support in addressing the matter.
“The ministry is committed to ensuring that liquor licensing and enforcement processes are conducted fairly, transparently, and in accordance with the law. Support from the committee could include facilitating stakeholder consultations, promoting compliance with regulations, and helping to balance public health and safety considerations with the interests of businesses and local communities,” said the ministry.
Additional Context
The situation highlights ongoing tensions between municipal enforcement, national regulatory frameworks, and business operations, particularly around zoning compliance and licensing procedures.
