By Zweli Martin Dlamini

When defending Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini amid tension with junior police officers, Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo said, the cops must not threaten the PM by saying the delay in the implementation of their salary increment under Phase two(2) undermines State security.

While the press statement released by the Government was matured this time and defended the Prime Minister very well,there’s a misleading paragraph that must be addressed and clarified in the statement.

Firstly and with due respect, it is important for the Government Spokesperson and the Prime Minister to understand the context of State security, it is not about monitoring a political unrest or protests as others in the corridors of power might conclude.

State security in context,is ensuring the safety of the country including its citizens and properties while on the other hand, maintaining law and order, police officers particularly, junior cops remain the basic resources in this regard.

While I’m not physically inside eSwatini, I had on numerous occasions, received assistance from the police after reporting house breaking and theft cases to the police, some of my properties were recovered.

We may differ on how the police handle some political cases but the truth is and as the situation stands, they are trying to work with limited resources and they are financially broke.

Some State investigators within the Police Criminal Investigating Department(CID) are using their own resources including airtime and data to investigate cases, no cars, no allowance to enable them to buy clothes as some of them are not always in uniform.

As journalists including Members of Parliament(MPs), we are advocating for the release of the police salary increment not because we don’t have grievances against the police, we may not agree with their modus operandi sometimes but, we cannot disregard the significance of their job.

The police are correct to warn that, the delay in releasing their salaries undermines State security, we can’t have financially broke law enforcement officers and feel secured, some of us we have properties in the country and if anything happens, we report to police officers and we trust them for the safety of our properties.

It is important therefore, to put political differences aside when addressing an issue where all of us, have a common interest.

In fact, we must develop political maturity and understand that, regardless of our political ideological differences, our common interest is the country.

Certain human rights organizations are taking care of me as a journalist, thats why I’m able to be productive and write informative articles, if I’m not taken care-of, access to information would be undermined because instead of writing articles, I will become frustrated and start thinking about my children’s school fees and food.

Therefore, the police officers are actually saying, the more this issue delays, the law enforcement agency won’t be productive and State security would be undermined, a hungry person cannot think properly and be productive.

But in conclusion, let me further correct the Government Spokesperson who stated that, the police are not negotiating in good faith by mentioning that, their plight undermines State security.

It is wrong to dictate to a hungry person on how that particular person must express his/her frustration, this delay is affecting even the police officers’ children.

The issue of Phase two(2) is no longer an issue worth negotiating but Government agreed to increase salaries for these officers through a Circular, the PM must just implement a Government Circular and depending on the availability of funds, make a commitment in writing when will these monies be released so that, the officers can plan and secure loans from banks, improve their lives based on that commitment.

I know the pain of being financially broke with no hope what tomorrow might bring, let us not pretend as if we don’t know what these police officers are going through.

The MPs who moved and supported the motion urging the Prime Minister to address this issue, did so out of love for the country.

We must avoid this tendency of politicizing a genuine issue that was documented and undermines State security, there’s a Government Gazette awarding junior police officers their salary increment and therefore, there’s absolutely no need for negotiations, the Prime Minister must just release the money.