By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE: In the midst of the lockdown, a battalion of police officers continues to raid homes of political activists and independent journalists without any protective clothing thus increasing the risk of spreading the COVID-19.

Eugene Dube, an investigative journalist who is currently in hiding after a group of police officers arrived at his home again on Monday confirmed that about 10 police officers who were not wearing masks raided his home and subsequently detained him at Nhlangano Police Station about two weeks.

“I can confirm that when the about ten police officers raided my home, they were not wearing masks, only one Sihlongonyane cop was wearing it. This means part of their intentions was to infect me with COVID-19” said the journalist.

Dube was raided for writing and publishing critical articles about King Mswati who rules eSwatini as an absolute Monarch, he faces treason charges. 

Phindile Valakati, the eSwatini Police Spokesperson did not respond when asked to comment why the police continues to raid homes of political activists and independent journalists without COVID-19 protective clothing.

Reached for comments, Bheki Mamba, the President of the Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU) said the police are exposing the populace to COVID-19 by not wearing masks during raiding.

“Everyone, it has been said should wear a mask and this include police officers. It is wrong for them not to wear masks during raids, they are exposing the populace” said the SWADNU President.

Wandile Dludlu, the Secretary General of the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) said as an organization, they have noted that police conduct raids without wearing masks and condemned their irresponsible conduct.

“We were all briefed on safety measures we need to take particularly when it comes to contact to the next person. The continued flaunting of the same rules by the police is not only dangerous to the others but themselves too” said the PUDEMO Secretary General.

Dludlu advised police officers who fail to adopt safety measures in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis to stay at home like other citizens and refrain from spreading the virus.