COPS TO ACT ON ‘NEW ARMY’ NOTICES

MBABANE – “Issues of national security are handled accordingly.”

This was said by Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati when reached for comment concerning notices that are being found in some parts of the country claiming an ‘army’ had been formed, which goes by the name ‘Shield of The Nation’. This comes after some members of the public claimed they had found notices or forms from various locations around the country which highlighted what the ‘army’ was about, what its objectives were and how one could join.

According to the pamphlet, Shield of The Nation, which was also written in siSwati as Lihawu LemaSwati, is allegedly an army of the people of Eswatini and not a political party. The objectives of this supposed army include defending the people of the country from allegedly unjust wars, freeing all political prisoners, defending political groups and activists from security forces, punishing all corrupt officials and all those who allegedly stole from the nation, promote economic freedom for all emaSwati, bring together all freedom fighters from all political  parties to fight the Tinkhundla system, to replace the Tinkhundla system with democracy and repatriate land taken without compensation and hand it back to ‘rightful owners’.

The sources of the pamphlets being distributed around the country are unknown and do not state their origin in the notice. What is also included in the notice is a list of things required in order for one to be eligible to join and also those who are forbidden from joining, which include children. The details of how to join this ‘army’ and the contact details, which include a South African phone number +27766008906, are stated in the notice. Worth noting is that those who want to be recruited are urged not to call the number but only send an SMS.

The police mouthpiece further stated that such a notice was handled according to statutes of the police force and touched on national security, which they did not discuss with the public. “We do not discuss such matters; we consider them and action accordingly,” said Vilakati.

Plot

Meanwhile, Ngwane National Liberatory Congress President Sibongile Mazibuko was contacted for comment and she stated that this supposed army was most likely non-existent and was allegedly just a plot by people in favour of the Tinkhundla system to divert attention. “As far as I know, this is a bogus recruitment developed by people who are trying to taint the pro-change movement’s image. Why would anyone against Tinkhundla want to recruit an army when the only army is the one we all know of,” alleged Mazibuko.

Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force Public Relations Officer (PRO) Tengetile Khumalo was reached for comment on whether the army was aware of this notice, however, she did not respond to an SMS sent to her and her phone rang unanswered. To ascertain just how legitimated this ‘army’ was, this reporter sent an SMS with the required details for recruitment at 9:30am, however, by 5:46pm no response had been received.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: