National Crime Rate Down 4.1%, Says NatCom
By Thokozani Mazibuko
‘Umbutfo WeMbube Ume-Zica’
The Royal Eswatini Police Service has reported a significant drop in national crime statistics, which is what government representatives have described as a promising indicator of strengthened policing and community safety.
This was announced during the Senior Police Officers and Senior Civilian Support Staff End of Year Conference, held at the Matsapha Police Academy.
The annual gathering brings together senior officers from the rank of Assistant Superintendent and above, alongside senior civilian support staff, to assess the organisation’s performance during the year and refine strategies for the year ahead.
This year’s meeting placed strong emphasis on evaluating policing progress in 2025, setting the tone for an ambitious safety agenda for 2026.
Representing the Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini was the Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Apollo Maphalala.
In delivering the Prime Minister’s remarks, Maphalala commended the Police Service for the discipline and commitment with which it continues to safeguard the nation.
He applauded the convening of the conference, noting that critical self-assessment is the cornerstone of effective policing and institutional renewal.
Maphalala likened the reflective purpose of the conference to the life cycle of an eagle, which renews its strength through deliberate self-transformation.
In the same way, he said, the Police Service must constantly re-evaluate its operations, adapt to new challenges, and align its mission with the evolving needs of the public.
He told the gathering that the peace pulse of the nation rests heavily on the shoulders of the Police Service and urged officers to remain steadfast in their professional calling.
The highlight of the conference came from the National Commissioner, Manoma Vusie Masango, who presented a comprehensive review of policing indicators for 2025.
He announced that the country recorded a 4.1 percent decrease in volume crime compared to 2024, a development he described as encouraging and reflective of improved policing strategies.
Volume crime, which includes common offences that affect everyday citizens, is a key indicator of public safety and community wellbeing. A reduction of this scale signals progress in both prevention and response efforts across the Service.
Masango credited this achievement to enhanced operational coordination, stronger intelligence-led policing, and improved collaboration with communities.
He encouraged officers not to view the decrease as an end point but as motivation to push for further reductions in the coming year. Crime, he said, continues to evolve, and so must the strategies used to combat it.
Despite celebrating the positive trajectory in crime reduction, Masango raised concern over the escalation of road traffic accidents in 2025. He noted that while strides have been made in traditional policing, the country is experiencing a worrying spike in crashes, many resulting in deaths and serious injuries.
He called for immediate and aggressive action to address the issue, stressing that road safety must become a priority area for the Police Service going into 2026.
Masango underlined the need for more visible policing on major routes, stronger enforcement of traffic regulations, and increased public awareness campaigns targeting reckless driving, speeding, and drunk driving. He added that the Police Service will intensify partnerships with stakeholders in the transport sector to design integrated interventions that respond effectively to the rising accident statistics.
Throughout the conference, speakers emphasised the importance of maintaining professionalism, discipline, and innovation in policing.
Participants engaged in sessions examining strategic areas such as crime prevention approaches, technology and policing, community engagement, staff welfare, and leadership development.
The discussions were designed to equip senior officers with the tools and insights needed to strengthen policing delivery in the coming year.