By Ncaba Ntshakala
Prime Minister Russell Dlamini has called for greater transparency in the promotion processes within the Royal Eswatini Police Services (REPS) and assured the officers that their long concerning issue of salary review will be looked at.
Dlamini made the appeal during his recent tour of several key facilities under the REPS, where he also gained first-hand insights into the conditions under which the nation’s police officers operate.
The Prime Minister, who also holds the portfolio as the Minister responsible for the Police, was accompanied by a high-profile delegation,
including the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Appollo Maphalala, National Housing Board CEO Mduduzi Dlamini, Members of Parliament, and representatives from the Micro Projects Unit.
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This tour was said to be part of the bigger government initiative led by the Ministry of Housing to develop institutional housing projects across the country which is aimed at improving living conditions for public servants.
“Our tour commenced at the Matsapha Police Academy Motor Vehicle Workshop, followed by a visit to the Malkerns Police Station,” Prime Minister Dlamini said in a statement issued after the tour.
“We also inspected the deteriorating conditions at the Mbabane New Police Camp, and visited the Police Stores and Tailoring Service, the Photography and Printing Unit, and concluded at the Police Headquarters.”
Throughout the tour, the Prime Minister and his delegation were met with a mix of pride and concern from REPS officers.
The officers expressed their dedication to their duties, despite the challenging work environments they face daily.
In response, Prime Minister Dlamini commended the officers for their continued professionalism and assured them that the government is fully aware of the challenges they face.
“We commend the REPS officers for their unwavering professionalism and dedication to duty, despite the challenging working and living conditions they face.
We assured them that Government is fully aware of these challenges and is actively working to address them,” Dlamini remarked.
A key issue raised during the tour was the concern over the fairness and transparency of promotions within the police service.
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Addressing this, the Prime Minister disclosed that he had engaged in discussions with the National Commissioner of Police and the Senior Management of REPS where he urged them to ensure that promotions within the service are conducted in a transparent manner.
“We also acknowledged the concerns regarding promotions within the service.
We have discussed this issue with the National Commissioner and Senior Management of the Police, urging them to ensure transparency in their processes,” the Prime Minister added.
“Additionally, we emphasized the importance of collaboration with the Government in the ongoing fight against corruption.”
Moreover, the Prime Minister assured the police officers that the issue of their salary review is being actively addressed.
He emphasized that the government is in constant engagement with the relevant authorities to expedite this process, recognizing the need for fair compensation as a crucial factor in maintaining the integrity and motivation of the police force.
“Furthermore, we assured the officers that the issue of their salary review is currently being addressed, and we are consistently engaging with the relevant authorities to expedite this process.
Finally, we urged the Police to remain united and focused on their core mandate,” Dlamini said.