Tension Between Law Enforcement Officers and Citizens Deepens

Eswatini Daily News
15 October 2021

Today in Nkomanzi a police officer was disarmed and assaulted by the community as tension between citizens and law enforcement officers reach high levels.

Yesterday Shewula Police Post was burnt to ashes by angry students from Shewula High School. The students say a police officer shot and injured their colleague with live ammunition.

A student who didn’t want his name revealed confirmed that students started protesting before the morning assembly and went to disrupt daily routine in other neighboring schools. Police then intervened to disperse the students and prevent them from disrupting other learners.
“ Two students were badly injured during the protest when police fired the shots. That is when we became angry and more aggressive leading to the burning down of the police post and police house” said the anonymous student.

The other day a group of protestors confronted law enforcers daring them to shoot.

Other citizens are complaining on the other hand about police failure to protect them from the illegal toll gates that are becoming more violent. “They force you to pay for safe passage. If you don’t have money, the comrades assault you and damage your car. We need the police to stop these illegal road blocks” said babe Mdluli whose car was stoned and the windscreen shattered at one road block.

It is about time Government takes decisive steps to end the tension before it gets out of control. Government should consider establishing Police and Community Relations Committee to help prevent further altercations and resolve any pending conflicts between the police and the citizens. The police should be assisted with new technical skills to police this changing society.