By Bongiwe Dlamini

MBABANE:Swaziland News editor Zweli Martin Dlamini has been accused by junior police officers of being soft on National Police Commissioner Vusi Manoma Masango.

The cops flooded the editor with messages expressing their frustration about the National Commissioner who allegedly blocked them from demanding a salary increment under Phase two(II), the money was eventually paid by Government but, the cops demanded more and in terms of 2014 Government Circular.

“You are soft on Masango Mr editor, in fact sesivile kutsi National Commissioner wake wakhuluma kulomunye umhlangano we-Executive nakabutwa kutsi ubanjwa nini wena? Wavele watsi ubantjwa kutsi wenteni ngoba wena ubhala tindzaba neNkhosi uyayi-critizer uyitjele loku bona lebangeke bakhone kuyitjela kona, wena uyitjele itobona tiphosiso tayo. Kahle-kahle nibangani nine naMasango kodvwa Mashikilisane uyamgijimisa,” said one of the cops.

But editor Zweli Martin Dlamini clarified that, he doesn’t have any personal relationship with the National Commissioner of Police and that, he cannot be hard against him unnecessarily just to balance the troubles faced by Army Commander Moses Mashikilisane Fakudze.

“The police officers who accuse me of being soft on Masango provided some information that has nothing to do with the National Commissioner’s public duties and when I asked them to at least provide evidence so that I can analyze and ascertain if there’s an element of public interest, they simple said “kuyatiwa nje emaphoyiseni kutsi uyakwenta”. How do you write a story that threatens someone’s reputation based on mere perception not substantive facts?. Unfortunately I don’t specialize on digging public figures private lives unless the private affairs are linked to the individual’s public duties. The National Commissioner will make headlines if he is found to be abusing power, stealing public funds or engaging in anything of public interest,” said the editor.