Q. Why is refuse charged separately from rates?

A. This is because there is a way of individually calculating for this service as opposed to services such as street lighting.

Q. What do I do when I want to change my residential plot into an industrial plot?

A. You apply for a rezoning through the City Planner's Department in Council.

Q. What is the procedure for obtaining a trading licence?

A. Submit an application for a license at the Ministry of Enterprise and Employment. One of the requirements would be to obtain a health report from the Environmental Health Department. You have to fill an application from the EHS department so that your premises can be inspected.

Q. Who is responsible for clearing of overgrown plots?

A. The owner of the plot is responsible for clearing his/her own plot after being given three notices by the Environmental Health office. If he/she fails to comply, the office then engages the services of a private contractor to clear the plot and the owner of the plot is charged fees of the contractor plus 20%.

Q. Why does Council trouble the poor women who try and earn a living by selling on the streets?

A. Council understands the reason why these women sell on the street. However, Council is entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring order, cleanliness and good health for everyone in the city. It is also expected to effect the legislations by monitoring street vending. Unmonitored street vending eventually causes problems for pedestrians by blocking the pavement causing health hazards and become a nuisance to other business people. Note that Council does not prevent authorized street vending, but only wants to maintain order and cleanliness within the city.       

Q. I am unemployed and I would like to sell something in Manzini preferably within the city centre, How do I go about getting a permit? 

A. It helps Council to know the kind of goods you would like to sell. Depending on what you want to sell and the availability of space at the market or at the designated vending site, you may be issued a permit for which you pay a fee depending on the goods that you want to sell and the area in which you were allocated space. Selling in any other area of the city outside the designated areas is a crime.

Q. I stay in one of the informal townships and I want to sell vegetable near my house. How can I obtain a permit for this from Council?

 A. There are designated business sites in the informal areas from which people can conduct their business. Please come to Council to find out about your own area's business or consult your zone leaders or councillors.

Q. Why does Council demolish houses in the informal areas?

A. All informal settlements in the urban area are subject to the same building regulations. Therefore, anyone wishing to build a structure must first apply and have an approved building permit before embarking on any construction. Failure to heed these regulations leads to the destruction of the illegal structure. Secondly, a structure can be demolished if the applicant fails to comply with the building permit issued to him/her.

Q. We requested Council to erect streetlights in our area, but there  has been no response yet. Why?

A. There is a programme in our budget for erecting streetlights. Council approve the budget and programme. Please try to find out from your councillor if your area had been catered for in this financial year.