Madam,

I wish to extend my sincere gratitude and support to the Ministry of Home Affairs for its recent, decisive actions in tackling what can only be described as a twenty-year rot within the department. For two decades, our national security and the integrity of our identity have been compromised by a culture of entrenched corruption. However, as we witness the recent expulsion of immigration officers, we must be clear: This cannot merely end with internal disciplinary hearings or quiet resignations. Those found guilty of compromising our sovereignty must be arrested, prosecuted and jailed to serve as a deterrent to any would-be offenders.

The recent crackdown has exposed the sheer depth of the crisis. For too long, the Ministry operated with ‘insider threats’ who acted as travel agents for criminals. From the infamous ‘Matlala’ ID scandal to the recent apprehension of foreign nationals holding legitimate local documents, it is clear that the gates of our country were being sold to the highest bidder. This is corroborated by recent regional security findings which suggest that Eswatini has increasingly been viewed as a ‘soft point’ for illicit migration and identity theft. According to data from the 2025/2026 SADC Regional Transnational Organised Crime reports: The manipulation of civil registries remains a primary enabler for human trafficking and financial fraud across the borders.

While I applaud the ministry for this overdue clean-out, we must recognise that expulsions are only the first stage of the cure.

To truly sanitise the department, a total structural reshuffle must follow immediately. Merely removing a few ‘bad apples’ is insufficient if the underlying networks remain intact. We need a complete overhaul of personnel and a rotation of staff in sensitive positions to break the remaining syndicates that have survived for decades. Research into institutional corruption suggests that without a total reshuffle, the remaining middle-tier staff often inherit the corrupt blueprints of their predecessors, leading to a relapse into old habits within months.

Furthermore, the ministry must transition from investigation to incarceration. The public is tired of seeing high-profile cases end in endless suspensions with full pay. If an immigration officer is found to have bypassed the national security database to issue a passport or ID to a foreign national, that is not just misconduct: It is a criminal act of treason against the State. By ensuring these individuals face the full might of the Royal Eswatini Police Service and the Judiciary, the ministry will send a clear message: The era of selling our birthright is over.

The human cost of this rot is also visible at the grassroots level, such as the inefficiencies seen at our hospital service points.

When officers feel they are part of a protected, corrupt elite, they treat the public with disdain, taking two-hour lunch breaks and imposing arbitrary fees for services like lamination. This culture of apathy is a direct byproduct of the lack of accountability at the top.

The ministry has shown that it has the teeth to bite: Now, it must show it has the stomach to finish the job. We need a new structure rooted in digital transparency and a commitment to the rule of law. Do not just fire the corrupt; hand them over to the courts. Finish the job with a comprehensive reshuffle and restore the dignity of our Home Affairs so that every liSwati can once again take pride in the document that bears our national seal.

For two decades, our national security and the integrity of our identity have been compromised by a culture of entrenched corruption.