Firstly, let me state that I was among the journalists who were covering a press conference at the Police Headquarters in February 2011 as per an invitation by the then Prime Minister(PM) Dr Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini and the Office of the Police Spokesperson.
During that press conference, PM Barnabas Dlamini, as he then was, first announced the extension of the then Police Commissioner Isaac Magagula who was due for retirement, Magagula was awarded a five(5) year contract by King Mswati acting on the advice of Barnabas, the then Minister of Police.
After announcing the contract for Isaac Magagula, the late Prime Minister mentioned that, he will improve the working conditions of all police officers, there was no mentioning of a Consultant, I was there attending the press conference as a journalist for one of the local newspapers.
Indeed, in 2014 Barnabas kept his promise by awarding all police officers a salary increment, Evart Madlopha, the then Principal Secretary(PS) in the Ministry of Public Service released two(2) Circulars, Phase one(1) was to benefit senior police officers while the now ‘famous’ Phase two(2) was for the benefit of junior police officers.
But what happened thereafter, Isaac Magagula who was the Police Commissioner that time, went to King Mswati and misled him that, the whole organization needed restructuring to align with the Southern African Development Community(SADC) standards,he then elevated himself into the top position of National Commissioner of Police and the King was convinced to ‘bless’ this new title that came with a huge salary increment for Magagula.
The former National Commissioner did all this in consultation with the Executive Command and this “include the current National Commissioner Vusi Manoma Masango, the then Head of the Operational Support Services Unit(OSSU) and the then Deputy Commissioner William Tsintsibala Dlamini among others”.
About twenty(20) Assistant, Deputy and Senior Deputy Commissioners posts were then created by Isaac Magagula and the alleged intention was to loot the entire millions budgeted for both Phase 1 and Phase 2.
As you read this article, some of the above mentioned Assistant Commissioners, Deputy and Senior Deputy National Commissioners posts or positions “have been declared redundant or removed because after all, eSwatini as a small country, does not even qualify to have a National Commissioner, not to mention dozens of Deputy Commissioners.
The title “National Commissioner” was meant for giant countries like South Africa where there are Provincial Police Commissioners and there was absolutely no need for about twenty(20) Assistant Commissioners, Deputy and Senior Deputy Commissioners, the motive was to loot the millions that was to increase salaries for junior police officers.
Now the current National Commissioner has released a statement saying a Consultant is busy with the Phase 2 issue, this matter was long concluded and what is needed now is the money for junior police officers.
Prime Minister Barnabas Dlamini was very open to journalists he trusts or like, he would call some of us and we know exactly what happened in this matter, we had the privilege of speaking directly to the Prime Minister even after press conferences.
Lana Isaac Magagula washayela Hulumende neNgwenyama tinyoni ngekudlabhatisa imali yema-junior officers wayidla nalabanye bo-Commissioner.
Therefore, Government must just release the money and increase the salaries for these officers because after all,it is clear that their money that was budgeted for, was misappropriated.
Senator Isaac Magagula knows very well what he did in this matter, I remember during a meeting in his Office where he had summoned me just to warn me saying “nawubhala ungangibiti nga-Commissioner, lesigaba sa-National Commissioner samenyetelwa yiNgwenyama lilanga libalele”.
Maybe, the current National Commissioner Vusi Manona Masango was at Ngonini-OSSU and would attend meetings at the Headquarters on this issue of Phase 2, some of us know how it started from the day Prime Minister Barnabas Dlamini announced it in February 2011.
Therefore, we don’t rely on press statements on this matter, we have direct information and Government must release the money.
King Mswati(Gov).