Late eSwatini Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini will be accorded a state funeral, Deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku said.

In a statement on Wednesday, Masuku said the state funeral will be held at Dlamini’s parental home in Nhlanhleni on December 25, and the burial will be on December 26.

The memorial service is planned for December 24 in Matsapha.

Dlamini died of Covid-19 on Sunday afternoon at a hospital in South Africa to which he was transferred on December 1 after contracting Covid-19 following his admission to a hospital in eSwatini. He displayed mild symptoms of Covid-19 on November 23, a week after testing positive for the virus.

Dlamini, 52, was born in the Manzini region. He was appointed prime minister in October 2018.

Masuku said cabinet has appointed a subcommittee to make the necessary arrangements and logistics for the funeral.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Lizzie Nkosi announced three more Covid-19-related deaths on Wednesday.

She said the deceased were a 59-year-old man from the Manzini region, a 91-year-old man from the Lubombo region and a 72-year-old man from the Hhohho region.

Eswatini has so far recorded 135 Covid-19-related deaths, 7,026 confirmed cases and 6,531 recoveries.

The country has lifted the national emergency and insists that adhering to Covid-19 regulations and protocols remains important.

Public gatherings are restricted to 20 people in a closed area and 100 people in an open area.

The number of people attending a wedding ceremony, funeral or memorial service or an art or entertainment event in a closed area must not exceed 100 people, or 200 if held in an open area. Community meetings must not exceed 200 people.