Please stop killing security officers
Sir,
Allow me express my humble opinion on the killing of national security officers in the name of democracy.
These killings do not only affect the soldiers, police and Correctional Service. Eswatini’s national security as officers can no longer exercise their duties without fear or favour as they risk arson attacks on their homes. Some people deliberately break the law for political reasons and yet they expect security forces to enforce the law when it suits them.
For a moment, let’s put ourselves in their shoes. They are not just soldiers, police or warders, but they are mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, uncles and aunts, in fact they are family.
Oath
However, they took an oath to protect us and our property, not just from enemies but even from ourselves.
When we put on our pyjamas or night gowns and go to bed, they put on uniforms, bulletproof vest and arm themselves. While we sleep peacefully, they are busy patrolling around our neighbourhoods, shops and streets while their families are not even sure if they will come back alive in the morning.
Search
While we enjoy yourselves, watch soccer, romantic movies and our favourite soapies, they are busy trying to search for a leg or the arm of our brother or sister who got involved in a car accident.
While we sit in the comfort of our couches reading novels or the newspaper, officers are busy trying to make sense of a note they found on the scene where teenage, daughter, son, brother or sister committed suicide. When we become victims of crime, it is always their fault.
Cognisant of the fact that many are calling for immediate dialogue, let us not be blinded by the pressure to express ourselves while ignoring the fact that a meaningful and productive dialogue should be free of intimidation.
We as a nation have an obligation to create a peaceful and a calm environment to have the dialogue we need. Any dialogue that can take place at this point in time in the current situation would rather be attended by only the pro-democracy activists because I do not think there is anyone ready to lose his or her life for attending dialogue which will be a target of solidarity forces.
Let us unite and protect our own and stop any foreign influence which is meant to destroy our country. To the security forces who feel that their grievances are not addressed properly, there must be a better way. The country needs your essential service.
Together we can still stand as a nation but divided sitaba ngemalulwane (we will become bats).
Mazet