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26 cops join race for Parliament seats

19/06/2013 01:21:00 BY WELCOME DLAMINI

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MBABANE – A total of 26 police officers have applied for leave so they could be able to join the race for a Parliament seat in the 2013 National General Elections.

Among them is Senior Superintendent Josefa Bhembe who is head of the Serious Crime Unit, otherwise referred to as ‘Tingculungculu’.
Bhembe wants to contest under the Lobamba Inkhundla where the incumbent MP is Majahodvwa Khumalo.
Premier League of Swaziland referee Lybnah Sibiya is another police officer who has indicated that he will enter the election race.

Sibiya will canvass votes under the Pigg’s Peak constituency where he will go up against Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Hlobisile Ndlovu. Ngudzeni MP Big Boy Mamba has also indicated that he will continue with his leave of absence and go for another chance to be a legislator.
Police Public Relations Officer Superintendent Wendy Hleta said there were quite a number of officers who had shown interest in running for parliament.

“But I don’t have the figures. The Police Commissioner has made it clear that even though he does not encourage officers to participate in the elections race as candidates, he however cannot stop them because they are exercising their rights in doing so.”

Asked if those that joined the elections but lost out would be allowed back into the police force, Hleta said: “I do not know what the conditions are because those that have applied for leave spoke to the commissioner in private. Maybe they are the ones who can tell you what they agreed on with the commissioner.”

The Commissioner, Isaac Magagula when registering for the elections, said police officers were not encouraged to stand for the elections because this could possibly compromise their work ethic after completing their five-year term of being actively engaged in politics. “The nature of this job does not encourage police officers to participate in politics, which is why we discourage them from standing for the upcoming elections,” Magagula said.