Times Of Swaziland: WHO WILL MONITOR THE MONITORS?

WHO WILL MONITOR THE MONITORS?
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By Vusi Kunene on 27/04/2017 09:20:00


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?