MBABANE: Two traffic police officers arrived at the Mbabane market(ka-Dobha Phansi) on Wednesday morning to buy uniform shoes, they desperately negotiated for a discount.
Reached for comments, resigned police officer Sergeant Cebile ‘Cece’ Shongwe confirmed that police officers are forced to buy their own uniform adding that this has been going on for a while.
“It’s true, police officers are forced to buy uniform from their pockets and this has been going on for a while. Even the uniform that I have now, I cannot surrender it to the police because I bought it from my own pockets, it’s mine”, she said.
Police Spokesperson Superintendent Phindile Vilakati had not responded at responded at the time of compiling this report.
The source at the Mbabane market who took pictures of the police officers on Wednesday morning while negotiating for the discount said the officers looked very desperate, they wanted to buy uniform shoes.
“As we speak they are here, negotiating for a discount, I will send you their pictures shortly”, said the source.
Despite facing financial challenges and unfair treatment by their employer being the government, some police officers are protecting Mswati’s regime.
On or around June 2021, police and soldiers were unleashed by Mswati to shoot and kill dozens of civilians who were protesting, demanding democratic reforms.
Reached for comments, Dr Siphetfo Dlamini, the Secretary General of the Swaziland Liberation Movement(SWALIMO) said it was surprising that such a respected institution could force police officers to buy their own uniform.
“It’s a shock that such a highly respected institution could reduce police officers to such levels where they are forced to buy their own uniform and go as far as negotiating discounts at the market. It’s surprising that despite the oppression they are subjected to, they are still standing on the other side of the fence, protecting the oppressor. We expect NGOs to buy those shoes and donate to needy children in various schools as a way of supporting the economy and charity. It’s surprising and it’s a shock that police officers go there to negotiate discounts”, said the SWALIMO Secretary General.
Police officers negotiating discounts on uniform shoes.