MBABANE: Former Crime Intelligence boss Assistant Commissioner Joseph Bhembe and other highly experienced criminal investigators have been recalled allegedly by King Mswati to serve in the police service.
Bhembe,a top criminal investigator founded the Crime Intelligence Department within the police service being a wing responsible for compiling reports, analyzing information in an effort to anticipate, monitor and prevent criminal activities.
On Monday, Assistant Commissioner and another retired senior cop Bizzah Dlamini were at Senior Superintendent Clement Sihlongonyane’s office, they are expected to resume their duties soon.
When this publication contacted Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, the police Spokesperson, she answered the phone call and after hearing the questions seeking confirmation about the return of the senior police officers, she asked few questions and then kept quiet.
“You said who is returning to work at the police service?” asked the police Spokesperson and after being told the names, she then kept quiet.
Efforts were made to reach Assistant Commissioner Joseph Bhembe for a comment, however, he had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
But a senior police insider within the police Headquarters told this publication that Bhembe and Bizzah Dlamini were at Senior Superintendent Clement Sihlongonyane’s office on Monday preparing for their return.
“They were here on Monday at Clement Sihlongonyane’s office,” said the senior police insider.
Reached for comments,Wandile Dludlu, the Secretary General of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) said the police service lacked professionalism and assured junior officers that under a new democratic government, promotions would be based on merit not favoritism and royal connections.
“In a democratic State, we want to assure the police that they would be professionalism in the police service and promotions would be based on merit not favoritism and royal connections. Most importantly, we have noted that the State is biased towards professionals and women in particular,” said the PUDEMO Secretary General.
The police headquarters