MBABANE: Mswati allegedly summoned National Commissioner of Police and other senior officers on Tuesday and heavily questioned them as to why they were failing to arrest members of the Swaziland International Solidarity Forces(SISF).
A senior police insider very close to the matter told this Swaziland News that the King stated categorically that he felt unsafe in the midst of the ongoing shooting and burning of properties. Mswati had earlier spoke with arrogance when dispersing his regiments in January 2022 saying anything that would burn in eSwatini would be interpreted as a direct attack to him as the King.
“ Today I am reminding those calling for democratic reforms that everything in eSwatini belongs to the King, anything that will burn from now will be interpreted as a direct attack to the King”, said Mswati.
But the police insiders told this publication that in the midst of the ongoing operation by the Solidarity Forces, Mswati now feel unsafe.
“He said now he doesn’t even know whether he has a police force that will protect him or not if people can terrorize the country in this manner. The King then suggested that security forces must stage roadblocks at night all over the country to catch these Solidarity Forces”, said the source.
It has been disclosed that after the King’s meeting with the senior officers on Tuesday, National Commissioner of Police William Dlamini subsequently summoned other key officers to a meeting at the Police College on Wednesday.
“During the meeting at the Police College, they ordered us to leave cellphones saying we will record and send to Zwemart. At the meeting, a fight almost erupted among the officers as they questioned why the Commissioner urged them to work as promotions are selective. The main concern was the continuous renewal of contracts for retired officers and the police officers asked what will motivate them to work if promotions are blocked by people who are not willing to retire. As the situation stands, some retired officers who had their contracts renewed are not even saluted as part of the silent protest by the aggrived officers”, said the senior officer.
Reached for comments, National Commissioner of Police William Dlamini said he was not aware of any meeting.
“Nguyiphi le-meeting lokhuluma ngayo Nkhosi?, I am not aware of any meeting”, said the National Commissioner.
Speaking to this publication, the Commander of the Solidarity Forces said they welcomed the strategy by Mswati and the police to stage roadblocks as it would work to their advantage.
“The Solidarity Forces is not a bunch of cowards without a political mission. We are revolutionary fighters who are fighting for democratic change in Swaziland for the restoration of the dignity of our people”, he said.
The Commander reminded King Mswati that the problem in Swaziland was not a security problem but a political problem.
“The problem in Swaziland is not a security problem but a political problem and no amount of roadblocks will stop or discourage us from our determination to fight and bring about democratic changes. In fact, any increased mounting of roadblocks in Swaziland will work to our advantage because we will attack those roadblocks and confiscate even more arms from the enemy so that we arm our people even better for the battles that lie ahead”, said the Commander of the Solidarity Forces.
National Commissioner William Dlamini.