Times Of Swaziland: REPS TO CHURCHES: PRAY WITH US AGAINST GBV, SUICIDES

REPS TO CHURCHES: PRAY WITH US AGAINST GBV, SUICIDES
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Sibusiso Shange on 14/10/2024 14:08:00


EZULWINI- “Stand with us in prayer as we seek divine intervention to end GBV
and suicide among other challenges.”
This was a plea by the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) to all churches
across the country. The officers of the law made the plea at the All Nations
Church in Zion headquarters in Ezulwini yesterday. Speaking on behalf of the
police service, Hhohho Operations Officer Jabulani Madlopha said police officers
are not spared from gender-based violence (GBV) and suicide. He said as the
police service, they believe that God’s intervention could be the solution to
the nationwide challenge. “We are here to ask the church to stand with us in
prayer as we are faced with major challenges, such as gender-based violence and
suicide. As a country, we are faced with many cases of gender-based violence and
suicide. The worst thing is that some people continue to act violently even
after being attended to by the police and courts,” he said.
Offences
Madlopha said the spirit of gender-based violence and suicide is so rife that
people opt for poisonous substances to ensure that they do not face
violence-related crimes after committing the offences. He said the office of the
national commissioner of police is concerned about increasing reports of
gender-based violence and suicide, some of which involve police officers.
Worth noting is that the prayer for the police service was initiated by the
National Commissioner of Police, Vusi Manoma Masango, following cases of
gender-based violence and suicide involving three police officers.
In the first incident, Frans Dlamini shot his wife, Nomfundo Sihlongonyane dead,
before ending his life with a service firearm while at the their matrimonial
homestead at Mpolonjeni in Mbabane.  The shocking incident was followed by
another suicide, where a police officer, Masiza Masilela, shot himself dead with
a service firearm while on duty at the Swazi Plaza  City Post in Mbabane. It
should be noted that Dlamini had been to the peace binding court, where Mbabane
Magistrate Innocent Motsa warned him against violence after he allegedly
assaulted his wife.Masango, during the service, said the suicides were
associated with evil spirits. He called for churches to join the police service
in prayer. Madlopha said another challenge faced by the country is fraud. He
said the worst thing is that criminals pose as bank employees and lure clients
into revealing crucial information about their bank accounts.
Depression
“As the festive season approaches, make sure you do not trust anyone with
information related to your bank account. Be careful of those who pose as MTN
and bank agents and ask for your crucial information. Some people fail to
withstand depression and commit suicide if scammed,” he said. He also warned
the nation against leaving their homesteads unattended during the festive
season. All Nations Church in Zion’s  Archbishop Bheki Lukhele assured the
police officers that the church will stand with them in prayer. The man of God
also pleaded with the officers of the law to keep praying for the church as it
also has challenges that cannot be solved. He also thanked the portrait offered
by the police service in appreciation of his 50th birthday. The service was also
attended by congregants from nearby churches.