By Musa Mdluli

MBABANE:Apheous Nxumalo,the Government Spokesperson has been accused of undermining State security by escalating the tension between Government and junior police officers.

This comes after Nxumalo released a statement on behalf of Government, stating categorically clear that, junior police officers won’t receive a salary increment despite an order issued by the Supreme Court last week.

But in a statement sent to this Swaziland News by the Executive Committee of the Royal Eswatini Police Staff Association(REPOSA) on Friday evening, the junior police officers accused the Government Spokesperson of issuing contradictory statements in the matter that undermine State security.

“The Royal Eswatini Police Staff Association (REPOSA) has noted with dismay the reaction of Government to the Judgment of the Honorable Supreme Court on the issue of implementing Phase Two of the Police Junior Staff. We, REPOSA remain resolute in our call for the implementation of Phase Two as the Court has also pronounced”, reads the statement in part.

The junior police forces then accused Government of deliberately defying a court order, eSwatini has a history of undermining the rule of law, on the 28th November 2002, the then Prime Minister Barnabas Dlamini defied an order of the Supreme Court, a decision that triggered a judicial crisis.

“It is of great concern how government deliberately intends to disrespect our Judicial system.We as REPOSA wish to state our stand in the matter that we will not rest until the order of the court is complied with as it remains in force.We have noted the constant popping up of the word Consultant in the Government statement and we wish to make it clear that Phase Two has nothing to do with the so-called Consultant as it passed that stage ten (10) years ago. We further wish to inform the Nation and Our members that Phase Two is not a compensation as the Government Spokesperson has strayed, as usual. Further, Phase Two has nothing to do with the Terms of Reference of the so-called Consultant.REPOSA has noted the contradictory statement made by the Government Spokesperson where he stated that Government is seeking a review yet making accommodation/provision to pay or to meet the obligation. We, as REPOSA wish to sensitize the Nation on the failed attempts by Government Spokesperson to destabilize peace and inciting violence by stepping on the toes and fundamental rights of the Security Forces. Our members will continue to serve the Nation with Diligence.We wish to inform our members in active service, retired, relatives of deceased would be beneficiaries of Phase Two of a mass meeting to be announced in due course. We wish the National Commissioner has read and complied with Supreme Court Pronunciation of non-interference with the affairs and operations of the Association”, the junior cops said through the statement.

Tension is escalating between Government and junior security officers amid reluctance to increase salaries for the members of the law enforcement agency, despite the existence of a Circular issued in 2014.

In terms of the Circular, Government “is now allegedly owing the junior security officers a collective amount of over R1billion as a back-pay.

The junior police and Correctional Services officers are now entitled to a back-pay amounting to over one hundred thousand Rands(R100,000.00) each, while those holding the position of Sergeant are allegedly entitled to over three hundred thousand Rands(R300,000.00).

But apart from paying the back-pay, the Government “is, in terms of the Phase two Circular, obligated” to increase the salaries to at least fifteen thousand Rands(R15,000.00) while those holding the position of Sergeant, will earn over eighteen thousand Rands(R18,000.00) monthly.

But while the security officers were expecting their payment, Government announced that,the court order won’t be implemented or respected but instead, a Consultant will be engaged to review the salaries.

Worth-noting, Government has been citing Consultants for the past ten(10) years and recently, Public Service Minister Mabulala Maseko told Parliament that, Phase two was implemented triggering tension with the junior police officers.

On the other hand, Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini recently told police officers that, they won’t receive any salary increment under Phase two.

Eswatini is ruled by King Mswati as an absolute Monarch, the country is facing high levels of poverty amid low salaries for civil servants including security officers and workers within the private sector.

The low wages paid in eSwatini have reduced the standard of living for a majority of the citizens, about 70% of the population live below the poverty line.