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NATCOM HAD PM’S CHIEF BODYGUARD REMOVED

03/01/2021 00:09:00 BY WELCOME DLAMINI

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MBABANE – It is not every time that the number one bodyguard of the country’s prime minister is reshuffled; at least not without a serious reason.

However, within a year into office, the late Prime Minister, Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini, saw his security detail undergo a significant change.

He had his chief bodyguard, otherwise referred to within the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) as the Personal Protection Officer (PPO), replaced.

The PPO is effectively the prime minister’s ‘right-hand man’ and travels with him everywhere he goes as well as being in charge of his overall security.

When the late PM was appointed to the position of Prime Minister in late 2018, Superintendent Mduduzi Joseph Matsebula was given the task of being his chief bodyguard. Soon, Matsebula became a familiar face wherever the prime minister went; always walking and standing behind him when he was in public and when making public addresses. The country’s prime minister always had about eight police officers providing him with security each time he travelled around the country. These police officers took occupancy of two escort vehicles that drove in front and behind the official vehicle chauffeuring the PM. All these officers were under the direct orders of the PPO who led them and always took occupancy of the front passenger seat of the vehicle in which the PM was chauffeured. Matsebula took these responsibilities under the late PM, but was quietly removed and replaced around November 2019. His removal was never explained nor was it publicised as he was transferred to take up the position of Nhlangano Police Station Commander. William Dlamini, the National Commissioner (NatCom), said the reason to transfer Matsebula was solely because his skills were needed somewhere else. He said the late PM was consulted before Matsebula was transferred and he agreed to it.

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“We needed someone to take up the position of Station Commander in Nhlangano because we had challenges there. The person had to have the experience that Matsebula has. There was nothing else,” the police boss said. He said the PM’s security detail was the responsibility of the NatCom and officers assigned there were appointed and removed at his discretion. He said removing the PPO did not compromise the security of the PM because it was the national commissioner who, in the first place, had decided on the person to be appointed the chief bodyguard. “When we assign the person into the position of PPO, we don’t even specify the length of time he would spend there; we just assign him. The only exception would be when the principal would resist or oppose the PPO’s removal. Otherwise, if the principal agrees, then we redeploy that officer,” the NatCom said.

He said the responsibility that Matsebula was redeployed to was of a much more considerable nature than that of PPO because he was now in command of many people. “Nhlangano is big and has border posts that are now under him. That station has many departments including CID (Criminal Investigations Department) and others hence the position needs someone who has vast experience to be able to be commander. With the PPO position, it’s more technical,” added the Natcom. Nhlangano is situated in the Shiselweni Region, which is in the southern part of the kingdom. In an interview, Matsebula, who indicated that he was uncomfortable talking to the media without the NatCom giving him permission because this bordered on national issues, said his relationship with the late prime minister was a pleasant one and they never had any altercations. “It was great working with him. The national commissioner can also attest to the working relationship I had with the prime minister, he is aware of it,” he said. Matsebula said he was the only one who was transferred from the PM’s security detail and stated that he saw nothing strange with this. “I suppose my transfer was for development purposes and nothing else,” he said. Matsebula was replaced with one Superintendent Ntshakala who has been at the helm until the PM’s death on December 13, 2020.

During the PM’s State Funeral last week Friday, Ntshakala was present and made his presence felt when he chucked journalists out of the prayer service that was held at Dup’s Funeral Home before the PM’s body was transported to his home area of Nhlanhleni at Mbekelweni in the Manzini Region.

Ntshakala, despite other senior police officers having no problem with the journalists’ presence at the prayer service, said the media was not allowed inside the chapel and outside the funeral parlour. He said no pictures should be taken either within the funeral parlour’s premises or outside on the streets.