Businesses urged to lend hand in fight against crime TOTAL 372

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MANZINI - The police have urged businesses to partner with them in preventing crime by having armed response teams and investing in technology - surveillance cameras.

Manzini Police Station Commander Dumisani Dube told the stakeholders that if businesses could play their role in the partnership they were trying to build as the Manzini Crime Prevention Forum, they could be stronger and prevent criminal activities in the city and its outskirt. In the process, he said they would be able to achieve a crime-free smart city. He echoed the statement in the forum’s strategic plan, which was presented by Eswatini Parking MD Wiseman Magagula, by saying there was a huge need for businesses to invest in technology, mainly surveillance cameras for security and armed responses, which would work with the police.

Plan

Dube said in the strategic plan, Magagula talked about high technology, which could be used by businesspeople to keep an eye on their businesses anytime and anywhere.

He said this meant that with high technology, businesspeople could have their businesses in their pockets because with a click of a button on their cellphones, they could see what was happening in their businesses. In that regard, he said the issue of high technology in business security could not be over emphasised.

After that, he said since August 2022, they had noted that serious crimes like armed robbery started increasing and they were still on the rise. This is evident because about two months ago, this publication reported that armed robbers struck three times in about eight hours (one night) in Manzini, they robbed a businessman at his home at Ngwane Park, robbed a restaurant at Fairview and a supermarket at Ngwane Park. On another note, the Manzini Police Station commander urged businesspeople not to keep money in their businesses or at home.

Highlighted

Instead, he said they should take it to the bank and highlighted that if called for assistance, even when transporting money to the financial institutions, they would always be ready to assist them. He added that time for banking should always be changed.

It was noted in the special meeting that the Municipal Council of Manzini plays a major coordinating role in the Manzini Crime Prevention Forum, which, among others, monitors and sensitise stakeholders on crime related issued.