Times Of Swaziland: ACTING PM REPORTS COPS FOR SELLING BOOZE

ACTING PM REPORTS COPS FOR SELLING BOOZE
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Mbongiseni Ndzimandze and Sithembile Hlatshwayo on 25/01/2021 08:24:00


MBABANE – Caught-red handed!
Senior police officers had to be hurriedly dispatched to the police canteen in
Mbabane, after a livid Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku brought it to the
attention of the National Commissioner of Police William Dlamini that alcohol
was being illicitly sold at the establishment. Known as the police mess, which
consists of a bottle store and a bar, it is operated by the Royal Eswatini
Police Service and most of the staff members are police officers. It is situated
a stone’s throw away from the police camp. Masuku received information from a
whistleblower that the police mess was a hive of activity.
It was around 8pm on Thursday when the whistleblower called to inform the acting
PM that despite alcohol being banned in the country, same was being sold at the
police mess. The livid Masuku then conveyed the message to the national
commissioner, who immediately ordered two high ranking police officers to go and
attend to the matter. The information was indeed confirmed as upon arrival, the
senior police officers who hold the rank of deputy national commissioner
reportedly found members of the public and off-duty police officers
clandestinely buying alcoholic beverages from the establishment. When reached
for comment regarding the matter, Masuku confirmed that upon receiving the
tip-off from concerned members of the public, he then took it upon himself to
inform the national commissioner of police.  “I was and I am still angry about
what the police officers did,” said the acting PM.
Frustrated
He highlighted that what frustrated him the most was the fact that he was now
minister of police who had to lead by example. Masuku said he opted reporting
the incident to the national commissioner since he was in charge of the
‘Operation Bopha’. “Operation Bopha exists and it works without fear or
favour,” Masuku said. He said the nation needed to understand that as
government, they were trying to save lives by putting in place measures
including the banning of alcohol. He noted that alcohol, had been seen as a
superspreader of COVID-19 as people gathered in groups to imbibe. Another issue
is that there are traumas caused by alcohol, which result in people being rushed
to hospital yet the country is still battling with COVID-19 pandemic as cases
surge.