… Dates to be announced
BY PHUMELELE MKHONTA
MBABANE – For the first time since the emergence of COVID-19 on a festive season, border gates will see the extension of operating hours.
This is according to the Ministry of Home Affairs Communications Officer, Mlandvo Dlamini, who was speaking on EBIS1 (Eswatini Broadcast and Information Service) morning show ‘Letishisako’.
Dlamini said this while addressing the fact that emaSwati should be vigilant with their passports before leaving the country.
The communications officer said the ministry would, soon, extend the border gates and border posts operation hours, to accommodate the traffic which is anticipated to increase during the festive.
“We will soon announce the dates,” said Dlamini.
Worth noting is that currently, the Ngwenya Border Gate is the only one that open 24 hours.
He also said unexpired passports may not qualify for one to leave the country because of certain traits.
Explaining the traits, Dlamini said a passport with three pages or less does not qualify one to leave the country.
“Also, a passport which will expire in less than six months does not qualify the holder to leave this country. People should be vigilant with these indicators before leaving Eswatini,” said Dlamini.
When asked if passports would be produced by the Ministry of Home Affairs this festive season, the communications officer said the service was up and running and would be for the whole of December.
“This is the time when people travelling a lot so we have necessitated our working resources to be more convenient this time of the year.
“Our target is to produce passports less than 24 hours for a fast and convenient service,” he said.
