ARSON CASES: PM CRACKS WHIP ON CIDS

MBABANE – Prime Minister Cleopas Sipho Dlamini has urged police officers under the Intelligence Department to sharpen the pencil and ensure that an example was set on people who go around burning properties across the country.

Speaking during a press conference held at the Hhohho Regional Headquarters yesterday, the head of government said it was high time that police officers were diligent and ensured that all cases were investigated to finality.  “Let us make our investigations watertight,” he said. He also mentioned that those responsible for the law were doing something to ensure that the screws were tightened when it came to the granting of bail.

Dlamini stated that government had noted with concern the increase in the number of cases of people who committed similar violence-related offences once released on bail. It should be noted that when someone is released on bail, he or she is warned against committing a similar offence. The premier said government was also cognizant of the fact that the individual perpetrators were getting paid by foreigners who wanted to foster cooperation with Eswatini. He said evident to that, there were individual emaSwati who issued directives to the arsonists from a foreign country.  Worth noting is that there are people who are referred to as International Solidarity Forces who are linked to the ongoing attacks on security personnel, private and public properties across the country.

Dlamini said it was unfortunate that some people listened to the individuals and caused damages in their own country. “We wish emaSwati can realise the foreign mission and stop destroying their own country,” Dlamini said. According to Dlamini, the ongoing political unrest was more of a social problem than a political one. He said emaSwati were angry and frustrated as they endured the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic which resulted in job losses. He stated that social problems escalated to crime, which saw some people looting shops across the country. It was Dlamini’s observation that certain individuals then took advantage of the social problems and linked them to politics which then lured the minds of emaSwati into engaging in criminal activities including the burning and vandalism of properties across the country.  The premier stated that government had noted the ongoing abuse of police officers, which he said had been extended to their families.

Recently, police officers lost their properties after their camp houses were petrol-bombed by unknown people. Properties belonging to officers accused of harassing pro-democracy supporters were set alight. “Police officers are not victimised because they have differing views but because they are government employees. Those who have been injured and had their properties damaged are not different from people who were injured while on their line of duty. Therefore, they deserve to be assisted,” the premier said, further stating that he could not make a promise for now. He said even though the assistance to the law enforcement agency could not be termed as compensation, they deserved to get something.

Dlamini stated that government was yet to engage its partners to see how the officers of the law who suffered the losses could be assisted. The head of government acknowledged that just like other people facing difficulties when doing their jobs, it happened that some police officers came hard on people. He said any person doing a difficult job was bound to to make mistakes. “People are not the same and the situation differed. Difficulties sometimes see people breaching procedures,” he said.

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