By Zweli Martin Dlamini

Vusi Manoma Masango is a very intelligent man but, his decision to use force or a gun when dealing with the mosquito that has just landed on his testicles made me to doubt his intelligence.

The ongoing tension within the police service amid demand for a salary increment could be equated to a powerful and feared man, using force or a gun when killing a mosquito that landed on his testicles, both the mosquito and the powerful man might die in the process.

One of the main pillars of the ruling Tinkhundla undemocratic regime is the police service and, with the division within the law enforcement agency, the pillars of the regime are slowly shaking.

But instead of using intelligence and release the money due to the officers, the National Commissioner and his superiors are using force in a desperate attempt to silence a genuine demand for a salary increment.

As mentioned in my previous articles, the demand by the officers for a salary increment is genuine and, it was therefore unjust for senior police officers to assault Sergeant Dumsile Khumalo “who is not using violence to demand what is due to the junior cops”.

Well, I am asking myself what is really ringing inside the head of the National Commissioner with regards to his modus operandi, perhaps he wants to lead a law enforcement organization dominated by financially broke officers who are struggling to afford a decent meal but, is that leadership?.

In fact as a country, we must ask ourselves if it’s in the interest of State security to have police officers who are financially broke, how do you entrust a hungry man or woman with State security?.

Junior police officers are a majority within the police service and, if all of them are financially broke or intentionally made to be, that would mean State security is under threat.

Indeed,unlike senior cops, these officers are on the ground dealing with crime and even the unlawful orders persecuting those with different political views cannot be implemented without junior police officers hence I made an example about a mosquito landing in the National Commissioner’s testicles.

But the oppression in this country has reached another level, harassing a representative of junior police officers merely for calling for a salary increment is a clear demonstration that, we have a serious problem that needs to be fixed.

This is not a political issue, some of these police officers are loyalists of the King and his Tinkhundla regime, they have absolutely no interest whatsoever,in politics but merely crying to their employer for a salary increment.

I would failing in duties as the editor if I can disregard their plight because despite the atrocities committed by other police officers, a majority of cops are genuinely working for the country providing security,they must be paid decent salaries for rendering their services as per labour laws.

It should be noted that, hunger does not have any loyalty hence the siSwati saying “sisu sinemacebo”, but despite that, we haven’t seen junior cops protesting and damaging property, they are just peacefully demanding what is due to them through their legally recognized Royal Eswatini Police Staff Association(REPOSA).

One wonders if it’s now a crime in this country to cry, saying “I’m hungry?”.

National Commissioner Vusi Manoma Masango must stop using force or a gun in an attempt to kill the mosquito that has just landed on his testicles, he must negotiate with it peacefully otherwise, he might, in the process of attempting to kill the mosquito, commit political suicide.