MBABANE:Senator Isaac Mmemo Magagula, the former National Commissioner of Police has benefitted about R20million more,from public coffers after reaching the retirement age, secured contract renewals and political appointments with the King.
Eswatini has about 70% of the population living below the poverty line and the World Bank reported that in 2021, the unemployment rate was at 33.3%.
Isaac Magagula was supposed to retire around January 2010,however,the then Prime Minister(PM) Dr. Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini facilitated the renewal of his contract with the King,Magagula then demonstrated loyalty by torturing and arresting poltical activists,he also ordered the brutal killing of Sipho Jele, a member of eSwatini’s main political party, the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) around the 1st May 2010
Sipho Jele was killed merely for wearing a PUDEMO t-shirt after the proscription of the political organization.
The former National Commissioner who was later appointed a Senator was earning over six thousand Rands(R60,000.00) including benefits and international trips since 2010, the salaries and allowances amount to about R1million per-year and this means by 2028 when his current political term expires, public funds paid to the elderly Senator will reach about R20million.
Senator Isaac Magagula failed to respond when asked why he was not considering ‘rejecting’ a political appointment to open job opportunities for the youth who are stranded with qualifications.
Reached for comments,Gabie Ndukuya,the President of the Swaziland National Union of Students(SNUS) said,it was very unfortunate to note that,while the youth struggles with no jobs,elderly people who have reached the retirement age are refusing to go home and open job opportunities.
“We will continue to condemn this because the youth is struggling with no jobs while elderly people are refusing to retire”, said the Students Union President when responding to editor Zweli Martin Dlamini.
Senator Isaac Magagula.