Times Of Swaziland: COPS MEETING OVER PHASE II: POLICE  BLAST  PM

COPS MEETING OVER PHASE II: POLICE  BLAST  PM
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Mfanukhona Nkambule on 27/10/2024 16:45:00


MANZINI – Prime Minister (PM) Russell Mmiso Dlamini has received strong
criticism from police officers affiliated to the Royal Eswatini Police Service
Staff Association (REPOSA).
At their meeting yesterday, the officers said the PM was misinformed about the
issue of the Phase II salary review structure. In particular, they said
improving the welfare of senior officers and leaving out the junior ones has the
potential of being a threat to national security. They held the meeting at the
Swaziland National Teachers Association (SNAT) Centre in Manzini, with officers
numbering between 20 and 30 in attendance. Others who attended the meeting were
officers from His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS).
One of the officers accused the PM of using the plight of junior officers to get
back at Lobamba Lomdzala Member of Parliament (MP) Marwick Khumalo. The officer
submitted that the actions of the PM were unfortunate in that during a sitting
in Parliament, he warned MPs not to use the issue to incite the nation. The
officer said the statement by the PM triggered reaction from the Lobamba
Lomdzala MP, who stood up and asked to know who the PM is to dictate how MPs
should make submissions.“The truth of the matter is that Phase II has divided
Cabinet and Parliament. That is why the PM called the police association to
Cabinet. He was actually reacting to the submission that Marwick made. He was
literally telling Marwick who he is and the sad part is that he has used us,”
the officer submitted.
Still on the PM, some of the officers made a submission to the effect that the
Secretary General of the police association, Constable Dumsile Khumalo, should
write a letter and request for an audience with him so that they could enlighten
him on the many circulars that have been crafted ever since the issue of salary
review for State security officers came to the fore.
“It is clear that the PM does not have the circular and we need to assist him.
He has said that officers in lower ranks received their Phase II of the salary
review in 2008. He might not be aware that the matter was there even before
that. Let us engage him,” the officer said. Meanwhile, other officers raised
fears that their matter might not see the light of day in Cabinet since the
ministers in office are also divided.
Using force
The officers said some ministers were fond of using force while others were
calm, knowing how to handle issues. It should be noted that our sister
publication, the Times of Eswatini, reported that the Phase II debate has taken
a new twist, as government has said that the salary review consultant will
address the matter in totality. This after a meeting was held between Cabinet,
led by the premier and the relevant stakeholders. Interestingly, this happened a
few days after Parliament had rejected a report tabled by the Minister of Public
Service, Mabulala Maseko, and ordered that he should go and work on the issue of
Phase II.
It was gathered that during the talks at Cabinet, the junior officers were
allegedly told that government was of the belief that the officers who were in
lower ranks received their Phase II of the salary restructuring exercise in
2008. It was reported that the PM also told them that government also felt the
only officers who are supposed to benefit from Phase II are now those who hold
the ranks of inspector and superintendent. Government Spokesperson Alpheous
Nxumalo was quoted saying that the prime minister has now familiarised himself
with the intricacies behind the junior officers’ salary issue and is now ready
to address it.
Yesterday, this publication sought a comment from Nxumalo regarding the
criticism levelled against the premier by the officers who attended the meeting.
Out of a mere salary issue that is being duly addressed by the government
through a consultant, Nxumalo said it was puzzling to hear officers complaining
about interference with national security. He said the PM is not and has not
been misinformed on the situation of the junior officers. “Besides, if they
harbour that kind of feeling or observation, they still have an opportunity to
seek audience with His Excellency the Honourable Prime Minister to clarify and
explain their respective circumstances and situations,” said Nxumalo.
He added: “The security forces in this country; like in any other country, are
the first line of defence of the national Constitution and their oath of office.
It is not understood yet as to what can agitate them to the point of thinking
that their salary negotiations processes with the Ministry of Public service can
climax to a national security issue if there is an impasse. They must explain
themselves further on this particular question.” It should be noted that
yesterday’s meeting was aimed discussing a way forward, following that there
is now a new twist in the controversial issue.
Insisted
For some time, government has insisted that the issue was being looked into, but
changed tune a few weeks ago saying that the junior officers actually received
their Phase II in 2008.
During the meeting, the attending officers first made it known that their
association is not a political party. Most of the officers asked the media to
state clearly in their reporting that they are not members of any political
party. Instead, they said they only wanted their welfare to be addressed since
they were swimming in debt.As they engaged, the officers would now and again
respond to questions posed by Interim Chairperson Zakhele Masuku, who led the
deliberations. In the middle of the meeting, Masuku asked the officers to share
their thoughts on what will happen if they are to wake up on Monday to discover
that the salary review had made them worse off and on the contrary improved the
welfare of the seniors.
“What if our superiors are granted a salary review backdated to 2014 and we
are left out?” he asked. “What will we do? Do we have a strategy in place?
Will we rush to court to obtain an interim to stop the salary review? These are
questions that we should ask ourselves,” he said. After he had posed this
question, one of the officers spoke in a low tone saying they have heard that
some senior officers are already bragging that only the top brass will enjoy the
cake. He said in vernacular the senior officers said: “Sitodla basibuka”. In
attempt to respond to the question, some of the attendees openly said they do
not know what will happen, but that they hope they will get their Phase II.
One of them said they will apply the popular ‘work to rule’ strategy, which
is a job action, in which employees do no more than the minimum required by the
rules of their contract or job, and strictly follow time-consuming rules
normally not enforced. One of the officers, however, openly stated in vernacular
that if that happens, there will be serious trouble in the country.
He warned that their superiors should not take them lightly as they will see
wonders. The officer described himself as a spiritual man and said he can
already foresee the trouble. As they made suggestions on a way forward, some of
them submitted that now that they are receiving assistance from Parliament,
perhaps they should also approach the courts.
No direction
One of the officers submitted that they have tried different avenues, but
seemingly there is no direction in the matter. The officer said perhaps the
court route would be ideal in that courts deal with evidence that is provided,
“The good thing is that we have all the circulars which we can present as
evidence in court. The obvious thing right now is that our superiors do not want
to listen to us. They accuse us of being members of PUDEMO, something which we
are not. It has been 15 years since I have been a police officer and I have
nothing to show for it,” submitted the officer. With the accusation of being
progressive, some of the executive members shared clarity and reminded the
officers that the association was established through a provision contained in
the Police Service Act, 2018, which means that it is in accordance with the
Constitution of 2005.
Another officer said there is too much corruption in the country such that it is
hard to even have confidence in the Judiciary. The officer said some of their
superiors got promotions because they paid bribes, while others ensured that
their children were hired in the police service even when they did not have the
required qualifications. As the debate on the way forward continued, some of the
officers explained that they are currently satisfied with the way
parliamentarians have handled the issue.
Positives
They said they were of the belief that if the MPs can be given time, there is a
lot of positives that can come out. Others said they believe that Parliament is
the only hope due that court cases drag on for too long in the country, which
could see some of them die even before they can enjoy the Phase II they are
fighting for. On another note, the officers decried that there is still no
Police Service Commission in the country yet it is the one that will be able to
independently handle their issues, especially those against their superiors.
They alleged that they were of the view that the police top brass is against the
establishment of the commission because they fear that it will deprive them of
their powers.