COPS’ MORALE LOW, NOT KEEN TO WORK - MPS

LOBAMBA - They might have taken an oath to ensure security in the country, but police officers are no longer keen.

This is the message that Members of Parliament (MPs) communicated to Prime Minister Cleopas Sipho Dlamini yesterday. According to the MPs, the morale among most police officers was low and they were not motivated as their welfare was not taken care of. This was during the portfolio committee debate of the annual performance report of the three entities which fall under the PM’s Office, which are Cabinet, the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) and Parliament. As if they had dedicated yesterday’s debate to the police officers, almost all the MPs spent some time talking about how they (officers) were not motivated. First to send the message across was Nkhaba MP Zakhele Magongo, who asked if the PM was happy with the work of the police officers in the country.

Injured

Magongo asked where the police were when people were either injured or died amid the political unrest last year. The Nkhaba MP said had he been the one in charge, he would have fired all the police officers. Motshane MP Robert Magongo had his colleagues in stitches when he submitted that some police officers had been assigned to provide security for the Speaker in the House of Assembly, Petros Mavimbela, and other top officials, something he said they were not happy about. “You have provided security to people like the Speaker. The police do not like this. During their own discussions, they do not speak well. This is because they are made to sit outside while the Speaker sits inside comfortably in his office or at events enjoying good food,” said Magongo.

Lobamba Lomdzala MP Marwick Khumalo also touched on the issue, saying the budget for the REPS came from the taxes paid by emaSwati. He said while he appreciated the police, he could not hide the fact that things had changed. Khumalo said he never thought that in his life he would one day witness an incident where a police officer’s house was torched. The Lobamba Lomdzala MP said even the people outside no longer saw police officers the same way they did some years ago. Instead, he said, the people now talked of police who shot people.

He then called on the PM to solve the issue of the salary review of junior police officers, saying the morale was low. Still on the same issue, Nhlambeni MP Manzi Zwane submitted that in terms of salaries, the gap between senior and junior police officers was too wide. Maseyisini MP Mduduzi ‘Small Joe’ Dlamini said it was obvious that the police officers were demotivated and said they should be given the money they were supposed to receive as per the 2015 salary review. He said not taking care of the welfare of police officers had the potential of causing violence, which was not good since the country claimed to be a peaceful nation. Also demotivating police officers, according to the MPs, was the tendency to extend contracts of superintendents when they had already reached retirement age. The MPs said it was wrong to do that as there were other capable officers who could fill up the positions.
“Once a person reaches retirement age, akahambe (he must go),” submitted MP Magongo.

Demanded

Meanwhile, some of the MPs demanded answers on reports that more top officials were now provided with security by government. The Maseyisini MP, Dlamini, said the provision of security for top officials was too much as he had seen one individual heavily guarded. He mentioned that this was sending the wrong message. Mhlume MP Victor Malambe also questioned the provision of security to some top officials. He said while he understood that there had been incidents which instilled fear across the country, there was a Constitution in place, which detailed the benefits of politicians and the hierarchy. “Since as a country we deemed it fit that some people should be provided with security, we must consider certain aspects. If we breach the Constitution, then it must cut across the board,” he said. Malambe then asked to know the criteria used in deciding the officers who deserved security.
He then asked if the welfare of the officers who provided the security for the top government officials was considered. “If you want to provide security for certain people, hire a private company that will accommodate all of us,” submitted Malambe.

Ndzingeni MP Lutfo Dlamini, who emphasised on the need to act on the Speech from The Throne to reconcile differences, said it was surprising that some politicians had asked to be provided with security because they either feared for their lives or had their structures invaded by unknown arsonists.
In vernacular he asked; “Ugadvwa kutsi unani? Ngulonjani yena lolotsi uyesaba yena ufuna kugadvwa, usabani ube uyi-politician?”

Rebuild

“The King said we need to rebuild what we have lost. This is the essence of today’s debate. Something has gone wrong, we need to do something and make things right. The PM needs to tell us how the dialogue will happen. Let us go to the people and hear their concerns,” said the Ndzingeni MP. In his summary of responses, the PM acknowledged the concerns raised by the MPs. In particular, he noted that the unfilled posts at the police service were a concern and said it was an issue that cut across all government departments. He said within the REPS, the standard hierarchy was known and that it would be considered when the posts were filled and that this would be done in consultation with the Ministry of Public Service. Regarding the salary review, the PM said it had to happen but that such would be possible once funds were available. On another note, the MPs raised other issues to which they sought answers from the PM. These included the proposed construction of a new Parliament building. The issue of an incident which occurred during the political unrest last year where tear gas was thrown into a bus carrying protesters was also raised with the PM. MP Khumalo said throwing the tear gas inside the bus was tantamount to mass killing.

Condemn

“You cannot do that, no matter what had happened. It is sad that government did not make an effort to condemn such an act. It showed that this is no longer a country,” he said. On another note, Nkilongo MP Timothy Myeni criticised the PM for having told the world that it was only a small fraction of emaSwati who were calling for change. Myeni wondered when the PM conducted a survey to ascertain what exactly the people wanted. Worth noting during yesterday’s debate was that Myeni praised police officers for doing a commendable job by responding promptly whenever communities reported crime. He submitted that police officers showed up for him when his 15 cattle were stolen. “Police officers are our brothers, fathers, children and sisters. They are unhappy right now because those holding senior positions had their salaries reviewed, while the junior ones have still not received anything since 2015. I must state, however, that I will not praise them for shooting people during the political unrest,” said Myeni. He then called on the PM to ensure that the recruitment in the police service did not delay.

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