Times Of Swaziland: ARE CRIMINALS WINNING WAR ON GANGSTERISM?

ARE CRIMINALS WINNING WAR ON GANGSTERISM?
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Joseph Zulu on 08/03/2025 06:49:00


As a parent to a teenager, I am deeply worried. There is a war going on –
gangsterism.
Let us be blunt: Are we losing this war to criminals? Despite police assurances
of 'full force' and legal tools like the Prevention of Organised Crimes Act
(POCA), the reality on the ground paints a grim picture. Gangsterism,
particularly among youth, is not only persisting but seemingly thriving. Is our
current approach truly effective, or are we engaged in a battle we are destined
to lose?
Can we win this war through force?
Being a journalist, I am privy to information about parents being afraid of
their own teenage children because they are now members of gangs. Imagine, being
afraid of your own child. How does our society even reach that level?
Recent headlines in the Times of Eswatini publications paint a chilling picture.
Words from stories on gangsterism or crimes committed by gangs literally leapt
off the pages this past few days as I read though the Times of Eswatini news
copies, a testament to the depths to which this menace has sunk its claws.
Children, our nation's most precious resource and the embodiment of our future,
are being lured, indoctrinated, and coerced into a life of crime. It is a crisis
that demands our immediate and unwavering attention.
Evidence of this encroaching darkness is all around us. Gang symbols deface our
walls, bush knife killings seem to be on the rise, and a palpable sense of fear
hangs heavy in the air, particularly amongst our young people. The police,
despite their pronouncements and pledges to dismantle these criminal networks,
seem to be struggling to contain the tide or are they? Gangsterism, like a
highly contagious disease, continues to spread its poison throughout our
society.
I say the police are struggling because these criminal activities we are seeing
are the end product, just like fruit produced by a tree. So, where is the tree?
How can we win this war when the ‘tree of gangsterism’ is allowed to grow
and bear fruit, month after month?
At the centre of this war of gangserism are children. Majority of our
country’s population are children whose contribution to this nation is vital
it we aspire to be the ‘pulpit of Africa’. No child just wakes from sleep
and say, “hey, from today onwards, I want to be a gangster”. There is
nothing fashionable about gangsterism.
But, our children are now not just being forced into crimes such as
housebreaking, car hijackings or assault. No, they are being trained to commit
heinous crimes such as rape. On Thursday, a story was published in the Times of
Eswatini News where it was reported that an 18-year-old girl was gang raped.
Even worse is that these gangs are now committing these heinous crimes in broad
daylight. The life of that girl will never be the same.
These crimes are not new. Police statistics show that in the year ending January
31, 2024, there were 824 rape cases while in the following year, ending January
31, 2025, there were 894. A slight increase but generally, the heinous crime
rate has not really dropped. Would you not say the criminals are having an upper
hand?
To their credit, the police are not standing idly by. They have committed to
deploying POCA, a formidable weapon in the fight against organised crime. They
have also stressed the crucial role of community engagement, urging citizens to
be vigilant, report suspicious behaviour, and work hand-in-hand with law
enforcement to foster safer neighbourhoods.
In fact, if you follow the Facebook page of the Royal Eswatini Police Service
(REPS), weekly, they list the achievements they made in fighting crimes such as
arresting culprits. On the same page, the police show some of the preventive
measures they have been taking to fight crime, such as a recent indaba they had
at the Mavuso Trade Centre. The police National Commissioner (NATCOM) Vusi
Manoma Masango even commended the police for acting swiftly in the spirit of
nkwe!
While the police are playing their part, is this enough? The gangs, particularly
those preying on impressionable young children, operate with a chillingly
effective strategy. They exploit vulnerabilities, offering a sense of belonging
and purpose to those who feel alienated and lost. They cultivate a warped sense
of loyalty, where violence becomes a twisted rite of passage and respect is
earned through fear and intimidation.
Eswatini is not alone in facing this challenge. Our neighbour, South Africa
(SA), has long wrestled with the demon of gangsterism, particularly in the Cape
Flats. There, gangs have established deep roots, holding entire communities
hostage through violence and fear. Despite countless government initiatives, the
problem endures, a stark reminder of the complexity and deeply ingrained nature
of this issue.
Even smaller nations are not immune. In Central America, countries like El
Salvador and Honduras have been ravaged by gang violence, with young people
often caught in the crossfire. These nations serve as a cautionary tale,
highlighting the devastating consequences of allowing gangsterism to fester
unchecked.
The war on gangsterism cannot be won through force alone. We need a multifaceted
strategy that tackles the root causes of this social ill. We must reach out to
our young people before they succumb to the allure of gangs, investing in
education, creating opportunities for positive engagement, and providing them
with strong, positive role models. We must empower communities to take ownership
of their safety, fostering a culture of reporting, supporting community policing
initiatives, and creating spaces where young people feel safe, valued, and
heard.
Furthermore, we must address the underlying socioeconomic factors that
contribute to the rise of gangsterism. This means tackling poverty, inequality,
and unemployment head-on, striving to create a society where all citizens have a
genuine opportunity to thrive. We must also provide effective rehabilitation and
reintegration programmes for those who have been ensnared by gangs, offering
them support, education, and the chance to turn their lives around.
The war on gangsterism is a battle for the very heart and soul of our nation. It
is a battle for our children, our communities, and the future we strive to
build. The police, the government, and every single member of our community has
a role to play. Ultimately, it is up to each and every one of us to decide
whether we will stand by and watch as criminals tighten their grip, or whether
we will rise up, united, and reclaim our streets and our children's futures.
Ultimately, the choice is ours.
Fuel price increase: ‘Imamba e khikhini’ our new normal
EmaSwati have this adage, "une mamba ekhikhini", literally meaning, "you have a
snake in the pocket". It refers to someone who is stingy with money, or a miser.
In the English dictionary, miser means someone who, despite having money, spends
as little as possible. The idea of "imamba ekhikhini" is derived from the notion
that stingy people are afraid to put their hands in their pockets because there
is a snake there, but, not literally. This kind of person will walk several
kilometres to find the cheapest loaf of bread, just to save E1. But, if he or
she does this every day, it means at the end of the month, they would have saved
at least E30, and in a year, E300, enough to buy two pairs of shoes at ‘bend
and pick’ or flea market.
Recently, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy announced the increase of
fuel price by 80-cent due to a levy. Now, this is not just an increase that will
affect motorists. It is a catalyst for a chain reaction, impacting the cost of
goods and services across the board. The cost of food items is often linked to
the price of fuel, and it has become common knowledge that once fuel prices are
up, this also affects the cost of acquiring food. The increase will also affect
paraffin, still used for cooking and lighting by many EmaSwati.
In the face of rising living costs, the familiar adage, "imamba ekhikhini"
resonates with a newfound urgency. What was once a light-hearted observation
about a miserly individual now serves as a stark metaphor for the economic
reality that will affect the already financially struggling emaSwati. With fuel
prices escalating and electricity tariffs climbing, the concept of "imamba
ekhikhini" should not just be a suggestion but a necessity. For the majority of
emaSwati, the income being considered low, this translates to a tangible
reduction in their purchasing power. This could encourage emaSwati to adopt
saving means that may be interpreted as being stingy or having "imamba
ekhikhini".
So, where else can you cut costs? What about lunch? How much does it cost you to
buy lunch every day? What if you could save your lunch money? How much would you
have saved at the end of the month? Instead of buying lunch every day, why not
carry your previous supper leftovers to work instead?
As another siSwati adage says, "sisu asina  mafastelo" meaning, the stomach has
no windows. This is interpreted to mean that no one will look into your stomach
to see what you had for lunch, whether it was leftovers from your  for someone
to look through and see that you had leftovers for lunch.
Meanwhile, you would have saved a lot. If you saved E100 every week instead of
buying lunch, at the end of the year, you would have saved E5 200 for the 52
weeks in the year. At this rate, you may not even need your Christmas bonus from
your employer.
The adage is no longer a caricature of an overly thrifty person; it’s a
survival mechanism. It’s about making conscious choices, prioritising needs
over wants, and finding creative ways to stretch limited resources. It’s about
transforming everyday habits into opportunities for saving. Consider the daily
commute.
For those fortunate enough to live within a reasonable distance from their
workplace, walking is no longer just a healthy option; it’s a financial one.
Embracing the morning walk not only saves money on transport but also
contributes to physical well-being. It’s a win-win scenario, where economic
necessity aligns with personal health.
For those who haven’t yet embraced the culture of saving, now is the time to
join a stokvel or savings club. These community-based initiatives provide a
structured environment for pooling resources and fostering financial discipline.
Instead of succumbing to impulsive spending, channel your hard-earned money into
a collective fund that can provide a safety net during these uncertain times.
The increased fuel prices and electricity tariffs have undoubtedly diminished
the buying power of our currency. An income of E1 000, once considered a modest
but manageable sum, now leaves you with significantly less disposable income
after covering essential expenses. This erosion of purchasing power necessitates
a fundamental shift in our spending habits.
But amidst these challenges, there is hope. EmaSwati have always been known for
their resilience, their ability to adapt and overcome adversity. Let us channel
our inner “imamba ekhikhini”. This is about embracing a spirit of
resourcefulness and ingenuity. It’s about finding innovative ways to make our
money go further, to cultivate a culture of saving and responsible spending.