By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:King Mswati is alleged to have intervened in the plight of junior police officers who have been crying for a salary increment for the past ten(10) years, by directing National Commissioner Vusi Manoma Masango to address the issue as a matter of urgency, sources within the Executive Command told this publication this week.

Documents in possession of this Swaziland News suggest that, on the 23rd May 2025, Vusi Manoma Masango through Lisbon Mabuza, the Staff Officer within the Police Headquarters, wrote to all officers, updating them about the Ministry of Public Service’s positive response with regards to the issue of Phase two(II) salary increment.

This comes after Richard Phungwayo, the Acting Principal Secretary(PS) in the Ministry of Public Service wrote to the National Commissioner of Police, informing him that, the issue of the salary increment was being addressed.

“The Ministry would like to advise your Office that, the matter has been discussed at length with the Consultants undertaking the Salary Review and measures will be made to address the issue separately and in a holistic manner that will yield a lasting solution”, reads the memo in part, addressed to the National Commissioner.

Vusi Manoma Masango, the National Commissioner of Police had not responded at the time of compiling this report.

But King Mswati’s Spokesperson Percy Simelane, when responding to this Swaziland News on Monday evening said, even though he was not aware of the King’s alleged involvement in the matter, he “can confirm that, the Monarch approved the salary increment” for all security officers.

“We are not aware the king has directed the Police Executive Command to address the issue of Phase 2 of the police service salary increment.What we are aware of is that years back the King graced salary improvements for the Police, Army and Correctional Services. Money was released to all three forces but only the Army was able to accomplish proper distribution of the increment. To weld together the gaps that obtained within the Police and Correctional Services ranks, Government decided on phase 2 which was to be fulfilled when funds were available again. This is a Public Service mandate in collaboration with the Police and Correctional Executive Commands. We are not sure if and how the King has been found to be a relevant stature in the discussions.Normally such issues are thrashed out away from him and brought to his attention for approval,” said the King’s Spokesperson.

It has been disclosed that, as per the Circular awarding the junior cops their delayed salary increment, the cops “are already entitled to a back-pay amounting to over one hundred thousand Rands(R100,000.00) for each junior police officer who was already employed in 2014 when Government released the Gazetted Circular”.

Acting Government Spokesperson Thabile Mdluli was not immediately available for a comment on the subject matter.

But officers who were holding the rank of Sergeant and Assistant Inspector are entitled to over three hundred thousand Rands(R300,000.00) back-pay, being monies that could have been paid to them over the past ten(10) years and/or with effect from the date of the Circular.

But with the engagement of Consultants, it has been disclosed that, “Government is yet to announce how the matter will be amicably resolved under a win-win situation for both parties.