By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE: King Mswati’s police officers and employees of the Fire Department appear to be on a strategic go-slow as a second wave of the political unrest intensifies in this troubled Kingdom of eSwatini.

But Acting Chief Fire Officer(CFO) Luke Lushaba, when responding to questions from this Swaziland News on Sunday morning, said issues of salaries were affecting all civil servants but clarified that this won’t affect the performance of the Fire Department in the midst of the political unrest.

“Issues of salaries are affecting almost all employees in the country, we cannot therefore single-out the Fire Department and suggest that it’s performance would be affected by issues of salaries,” said the Acting Chief Fire Officer(CFO).

But on Thursday, Fire employees marched to the Fire and Emergency Department Headquarters in Mbabane, they were demanding overtime allowances from government.

On Sunday morning, the Fire and Emergency Department rushed to Zombodze Emuva Inkhundla after the Constituency offices were burnt allegedly, by members of the pro-democracy Swaziland International Solidarity Forces(SISF).

A Fire and Emergency Department employee confirmed that their job was essential these days amid the burning of public structures and private properties.

“As we speak, Zombodze Emuva Inkhundla was bombed and we managed to arrive and minimize the damage. But we are not motivated to work because of the low salaries,” said the Fire Department employee when speaking to this publication on Sunday morning.

Reached for comments, Oscar Nkambule, the President of the National Public Services and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU)said in the midst of the political unrest where structures were burnt, he could not dictate to the Fire Department employees on what to do to put pressure on King Mswati’s Government.

“I cannot dictate on what these employees need to do in the midst of the political unrest where structures and properties are burnt, they know what to do to put pressure on Government. These fire employees are working under extremely difficult conditions when protecting life and property but Government is not taking care of them. Apart from the issue of low wages, these employees attend even to accidents and be exposed to highly sensitive conditions, the employer is not even taking them for counselling. No one cares what this mean to them psychologically,” said the NAPSAWU President.

The political unrest that erupted in June 2021 is now entering its second wave after a brief hiatus, following the Southern African Development Community(SADC) proposal for a political dialogue that was systematically rejected by King Mswati.

On Tuesday, police officers led by the influential Secretary General of the Police Staff Association Dumsile Khumalo marched to the Prime Minister’s Office, they were demanding a salary increment under Phase Two(2).

Reached for comments, Dumsile Khumalo, the Secretary General of the Police Staff Association promised to respond later regarding this matter.

“I will respond later,” said the Police Association Secretary General.

A questionnaire was sent to Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, the Police Spokesperson, however, she had not responded at the time of compiling this report.

But aggrieved police officers who spoke to this Swaziland News confirmed that some police officers engaging in a go-slow.

“As the situation stands, they are planning to disarm some of us ahead of our protest on Tuesday where we will be marching to the Prime Minister’s office to demand answers after delivering a petition last week. The tension within the security forces is a great opportunity for political leaders to put more pressure and demand democracy,” said the aggrieved police officer.

Eswatini is in the midst of a political unrest after King Mswati unleashed soldiers and the police to shoot and kill dozens of civilians, merely for demanding democratic reforms.