Times Of Swaziland: ‘FAT’ SOLDIERS FACE AXE FROM ROYAL GUARD

‘FAT’ SOLDIERS FACE AXE FROM ROYAL GUARD
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BY ZWELIHLE SUKATI on 01/04/2017 10:19:00


MBABANE – Soldiers with potbellies and those considered fat are either to
shape up or face being fired from the army.
This comes up after soldiers in the Royal Guard were this week told in no
uncertain terms that all those considered to be fat would be moved from the
unit.
However, this has not gone down well with many officers who felt ridiculed and
unjustly discriminated according to their genetic body size.
The army stance on royal escorts was conveyed to soldiers on Tuesday.
“Batsi sonkhe sidudla siyacoshwa ku-Royal Guard (We were told in no uncertain
terms that all overweight soldiers under Royal Guard will be moved from the
unit),” said one of our informants, pleading not to be identified as he would
pay a huge price should he be identified as one of those who leaked the conveyed
information.
It could not be established as to what body size, a soldier should maintain in
order to remain under the Royal Guard Unit.
However, an example was made of one soldier estimated to be of size 28 or 30 in
uniform.
The soldiers, who now feel they might be transferred to the borderlines or
elsewhere because of their weight, told this publication that never at any
moment were they told not to gain weight as long as they were Royal Guards.
What irks them most is that they haven’t heard of the police having taken a
similar stance for Police Royal Escorts.
Not even those from His Majesty’s Correctional Services.
“What is it that we have done wrong by gaining weight? And where do our
superiors arrive at the conclusion that to be a Royal Guard or bodyguard one has
to be skinny?” they wondered.
Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force (USDF) Public Relations Officer Colonel Madoda
Mkhatshwa said everyone who moves around wearing the army uniform, yet
overweight and doesn’t meet the required fitness standards should be ashamed
of himself or herself.
He said that didn’t paint a good image for the country’s army.
Mkhatshwa said it does happen in the army for things to change in response to
observations or a prevailing situation.
“If reports coming to those who are overseeing that particular force say the
image of our force was not acceptable, we will enforce that required stance.”
The colonel stated that there was an Inspector General in the army who was
responsible for monitoring army standards.