Bring back police posts - residents
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MBABANE - Residents in the Shiselweni Region are pleading with the national commissioner (NATCOM) of police, to consider reopening police posts in the region.
According to the residents, when interviewed by Eswatini News this week, there is an escalation of criminal activities in the area.
Last year, the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) decided to temporally withdraw cops in that region, especially KaDumako and kaGodloza, after there was a litany of attacks targeting especially the security force institutions.
One of the attacks by the unknown gunmen resulted in the death of a government employee under the Ministry of Agriculture, whom was mistaken for a police officer by the assailants.
It is said that the NATCOM, Tsitsibala Dlamini decided to withdraw the cops in all the police posts in the region.
ForceFully
It was also reliably gathered that the unknown men’s aim was to forcefully grab service firearms as the country was facing one of the most dreadful political unrest; in as far as the history of the country is concerned.
“Ever since the police posts were closed here at Debedebe in KoNtshingila, criminals have been doing as they please in broad daylight. Burglary and robberies have taken their toll in this area. “I am even afraid to go to town and buy groceries as the armed robbers attack us from the bus stops and take away everything. NATCOM please re-assign cops in this area, we are living in fear in our own community, one that we love,” pleaded Mageza Mazibuko, a resident from KaGodloza.
Another resident, Jabulile Sibandze, from KaDumako corroborated Mazibuko’s concerns and pleaded with the NATCOM to urgently address their concerns. “I am a market vendor, these armed men just come and forcefully take our hard earned money and wares and we are left with nothing.
“Please NATCOM, bring back our police in the area,” decried Sibandze from KaDumako.
escalation
Seeing the escalation of attacks and subsequent deaths of the members of the REPS, the NATCOM is said to have withdrew cops and closed all police posts in numerous areas.
This was after assailants were continuing to unleash attacks on government structures and the police department was not spared.
The NATCOM announced during a thanksgiving ceremony, that over 11 police officers had died by by being assassinated by unknown gunmen.