Times Of Swaziland: NO MORE GUNS FOR COPS ABUSING PARTNERS NO MORE GUNS FOR COPS ABUSING PARTNERS ================================================================================ Phiwase Phungwayo on 01/10/2024 17:29:00 MATSAPHA - The National Commissioner (NatCOM) of Police, Vusi Manoma Masango, has issued a directive, mandating all officers to prioritise crimes involving gender-based violence (GBV). He further directed the law enforcers to ensure that any police officer involved in perpetrating abuse is brought before a court of law. In a bold move to combat GBV, even within the ranks of law enforcement, the NATCOM declared that any officer accused of abusing their partner will be immediately stripped of their service firearm. Masango declared this during a moving prayer service at the Matsapha Police Academy yesterday. He said any officer suspected of perpetrating GBV against their partner will have their service firearm immediately confiscated. The service, characterised by intercession, music and a moving sermon by Sharpe Memorial Church of the Nazarene Reverend Mfanaleni Mkhatshwa, was convened in response to a troubling spate of suicides incidents within the police service, emphasising the urgent need for spiritual nourishment and support. Died Recently, Nomfundo Sihlongonyane, a female police officer, tragically died when her husband, Frans Dlamini, shot her before turning the gun on himself, both dying on the same day. Additionally, another officer reportedly took his life at the Swazi Plaza Police Post in Mbabane.In his remarks, Masango expressed deep concern about the troubling trend of law enforcement officers taking their own lives and those of their partners. He emphasised the importance of the police service to come together to address this issue. On the other hand, the NATCOM noted that not long ago, they launched Amnesty Month, inviting individuals in possession of illegal firearms to surrender them to the police and receive amnesty. However, he announced that from that day forward, the police would no longer grant leniency to those found with illegal firearms. Masango reiterated the sadness felt within the police community, regarding the rise in suicide cases. He recalled a recent meeting involving wellness structures, including chaplains, DCS representatives, psychotherapists and regional commissioners, aimed at brainstorming solutions to address this pressing issue. He highlighted the need to return to the drawing board to evaluate their approach and identify areas of improvement. The NATCOM revealed that he had given a mandate to interrogate the term ‘confidentiality’. He stated; “We are all going to suffer because of ‘confidentiality.’ We allow the people we are in relationships with to endure pain due to this term. This is our biggest challenge; many of us will spend months or years keeping secrets about incidents where we are harming our partners. No, not this time.” He emphasised that every police officer has a mandate to protect life and property. “We would be failing in our duty if an officer who is abusing their partner is allowed to maintain confidentiality. No, not this time,” he repeated. To the DCS, he issued a directive with military precision, stating that as soon as they left the prayer meeting, all crimes involving GBV should be investigated and taken to court, if necessary. He asserted that whether it was the NATCOM himself or any member of the police service, anyone involved in crimes related to abuse should face legal consequences. He mentioned that issues of counselling would be left to the relevant structures, such as pastors and chaplains, and that there should be no loss of life due to GBV within the police service. Expressed Masango expressed his satisfaction at the presence of station commanders and regional commissioners in the meeting. “Any officer in your stations who is abusing their partner, from today, should not be allowed to carry a firearm. An instruction will come from the NATCOM detailing how this will be enforced,” he stated, eliciting applause from the audience. He noted that all organisations in the country, including government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), are concerned about these incidents. Masango revealed that officers involved in these situations, including those at the homes of the deceased Sihlongonyane and Dlamini, would receive support through professional counselling. He further mentioned that they would explore other avenues to assist police officers in collaboration with development partners. With their help, he hopes to establish a toll-free number for officers to discuss their issues with the appropriate people, pending government approval. The NATCOM warned the officers to take note of the terms ‘health’ and ‘wellness’, and to reflect on whether they were truly mindful of these concepts. He urged them to consider what love means and what happens when someone decides to take the life of the person they claim to love. Masango remarked that love is blind if one can harm the person they profess to love. “To the female officers, we all have a challenge to confront this issue. If your abuser, who is meant to go to court for abusing you, is someone you choose to drop charges against, because you love them, do you want to risk your life in the name of that love?” he questioned.