The much anticipated march and petition delivery to the Deputy Prime Minister against the Police Brutality, removal of security forces on the streets has been denied permission by the Mbabane Municipal Council.

This is contained in a letter written by the council to Liphimbo Labomake revealing that the organization can not be granted permission to access the city’s street because the council did not have enough time to have a consultation as require by the Public order act of 2017.

“Please be informed that Council cannot grate you permission for precession due to the following reasons. Due to the current political unrest, a consultation meeting as required by the Public Order Act of 2017, could not be held in time to deliberate on your application. Therefore, Council can not guarantee safety of yourself and the public during the procession,” read the letter.

Secondly, the municipal Council expressed that they could not get permission from the Principal Magristrate in line with section 2 (3) of the Public order act.

The act state that a gathering may not be held in any building in which a courtroom or a national orlocal representative organ of the state is situated, or within hundred (100) metres radius of the building, unless written permission has been obtained from a Principal Magistrate.

Lastly, the Municipality expressed that the routes for the march are not available for procession.

Liphombo Labomake was advised to re-apply for a much later date to allow for a reasonable time for consultations and sufficient responses for their preparations as well as preparations for all relevant stakeholders.

Meanwhile, Liphombo Labomake took to their Social Media accounts on Thursday to announce the postponement of the Hhohho march which as scheduled for the 20th October 2021.

“Please be informed that the Hhoho march has been been postponed and an official statement with new dates will be shared soon,” confirmed the women’s coalition organisation.

On Monday, the organisation launched regional marches and petition delivery exercises which will see the organization delivering petitions to the Deputy Prime Minister’s office as well as regional administrators. The organizations, wanted Gender Based Violence (GBV) to be declared a national emergency, an end to police brutality and and the removal of all security forces on the streets.