By Zweli Martin Dlamini

 MBABANE:Leon Jacobs,the Managing Director at Eswatini Milling has confirmed that, as residents of Ezulwini,they are facing serious incidents of armed robberies within their homes.

It has been disclosed that within a month,influential businesspeople and other public figures who reside at eZulwini were robbed of their assets worth over R5 million.

One of the victims is Chantel Littler,the mother of the late influential,powerful and politically connected businessman Victor Gamedze’s son.

Speaking to this Swaziland News on Saturday, the Eswatini Milling Managing Director confirmed the armed robberies and appealed for the strengthening and provision of resources to the law enforcement agency.

"Firstly, we really appreciate that you have decided to take up this matter and report about it,the armed robberies are a serious challenge to us as residents of eZulwini. We have engaged the Lobamba Police, and seemingly, they don’t have enough resources to fight crime; they are facing a shortage of vehicles and human resources," said the Eswatini Milling Managing Director.

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

But Mathokoza Shongwe,the Ezulwini Municipality Chief Executive Officer (CEO), told this Swaziland News on Sunday that the police recently met the residents to try and discuss possible ways of fighting crime within the town.

"It’s true that the residents are facing challenges to mitigate crime.But what I know is that recently, they met with the police to try and find possible ways of fighting crime within the town," said the Ezulwini Municipality Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Reached for comments,human rights lawyer Sibusiso Nhlabatsi said the police and the entire security cluster neglected their fundamental duties,to focus on fighting dissenting views.

“The police have long neglected their duties to maintain law and order to focus on fighting political activists.In fact,after the June 2021 unrest, police resources were channeled to fight dissents and criminals have realized that even if they can terrorize people,the police won’t respond quickly or investigate.It’s a pity because the businesspeople who reside at Ezulwini are taxpayers who deserve access to security services that should be provided by the State police," said the human rights lawyer.