MBABANE: Victor Nxumalo, the Secretary to Cabinet has ordered the release of cars to the Royal Eswatini Police Service as political temperatures continue to rise in this tiny Kingdom of eSwatini.
This comes after insiders within the police told this publication that the State would strengthen security this week ahead of the June 29 commemoration, where soldiers and the police were allegedly ordered to shoot and kill protestors.
“Hundreds of plain clothed police officers have been deployed across the country. Some will be in entertainment places monitoring what people are planning, some will walk on the streets like ordinary citizens.Those in uniform will work at night, the full operation started today(Monday) around 1pm. The operation is like this: Let’s say a group of people are protestors, those officers would be among them and once start firing shots, they disappear,” said the source within the police service.
On Monday, Victor Nxumalo, the Secretary to Cabinet directed the Ministry of Public Works to urgently release the vehicles requested by the police.
“There is an urgent request for transport by the Royal Eswatini Police Service. Ministries are requested to make available the following vehicles today(27 June 2022). Twenty(20) single Caps(sic), Eighteen(18) Trucks, Fifteen(15) Sedans. It is requested that the usual arrangement of delivering the vehicles at CTA be made so that the police collects them there,” reads the memo in part allegedly signed by the Secretary to Cabinet.
Reached for comments, Alpheous Nxumalo, the Government Spokesperson said he was not aware of the memo.
“I am not aware of any memo Mlangeni,” said the Government Spokesperson.
Phindile Vilakati, the Police Spokesperson had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
Reached for comments, Oscar Nkambule, the President of the National Public Service and Allied Workers Union(NAPSAWU) said as a union, they were surprised that Government opted to declare war, abuse public resources just to fight citizens.
“We are concerned because some of our members were shot by the police while on duty during last year’s political unrest. Now that Government is requesting cars, it means they are preparing to kill more people and we urged our members to stay at home and avoid going to work in the coming two days,” said the NAPSAWU President.
A memo allegedly signed by Secretary to Cabinet Victor Nxumalo.