WHO WILL MONITOR THE MONITORS?

More than a decade ago, I watched a movie titled ‘Enemy of the State’. Towards the end of the movie, Will Smith, who was among the leading actors in the movie, uttered the words; “Who will monitor the monitor of the monitors?”

This is the question that also boggles my mind these days looking at the state of our monitors. I am also wondering if they are not enemies of the State.

Even before the staff association takes shape in our Correctional Services leaders of the association are resigning.
I then wonder what is happening at our Correctional Services. If the insinuations that the reason for the resignations are because of the submissions made in Parliament are true, then this is worrying.

I am of the view that when the officers were mandated to serve in the association, they were there to serve the best interest of their colleagues and the institution they are working for.
They are not there to serve or protect the interest of individuals.

They are there because they have the capability and competency to serve in such positions. I also believe that they have the qualifications to serve there. If then they have to defend even the indefensible, it worries me. I have heard a lot of what is happening in the Correctional Services in relation to the powers of the one delegated to lead the institution and the truth is that absolute power corrupts absolutely and the association was trying to stop that. The leaders of the institution should not be offended by mechanisms that will monitor their powers when leading this public institution that is fully funded by taxpayers’ money.

The powers of some leaders of public institutions must be curtailed and the incumbents also exercise their powers in a justifiable manner. I was wondering the other day who determines the promotion in our security forces? What criteria are used to grant one a promotion? I have noticed, (this will be denied) that every time after some promotions are announced there is some disgruntlements. This is more so with the Royal Swaziland Police, after the announcement the junior officers are usually demotivated and they somehow engage in a ‘go slow.’
This is not the right move for them but what can they do when they do not have a body to represent them? I know that they are said to have staff associations but how effective are they? Some hard working police officers have not been promoted in a long time and the lazy ones are awarded with high positions.
The other day a report was made at a police station and the officer who happens to be a hard worker was so demotivated that he failed to action the report. It was a housebreaking report and he just told the person reporting to go back home and record the items stolen and quantify their prices.
I wondered about that because there are fingerprints that are to be captured at the scene, when would that be done? Is this not the reason why the thief will be acquitted one day? I was surprised though as he was on a go slow and the public, which pays his salary, was not offered the service. I also wonder if the public purse is considered in such promotions as they come with salary raises. Who is monitoring the promotions and their implications in the budget of the country?
A friend was telling me that he was in one town in the USA one day when the marines were returning from their training. She said the town was given a holiday on that day to celebrate their return. There were celebrations in town; would that happen with our army? Will people celebrate their return of our soldiers who are refusing to be audited? Will we be happy with an army that is refusing to be assessed that they possess the required skills? Will we be happy with an army that has personnel who are facing criminal charges and are not tried in years?
I am referring to the case where the army police allegedly killed one of their own and they have not been tried after getting bail. If the army is refusing to offer any information yet they are being financed through the public budget, then how do they account for the money they get? Will that not lead to the assumption that they are misusing the money? I know that they will cite national security as an excuse and I fully agree with that, but that is not a licence to be secretive.
There is information that they can issue which will not risk national security and there are people who can be given access to information and it would not risk State security. Our security forces are to monitor the people and the country. The question is who is monitoring them if they have so many shortfalls on their part?
Parliament has failed to monitor these institutions. Who will monitor the monitor of the monitors?

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