By Phesheya Ian Kunene
JERICHO – It was boots on the ground and hearts on sleeves at Siguduma, Jericho yesterday.
National Commissioner of Police, Mr. William Vusie Manoma Masango, cut a stern but reassuring figure as he addressed a determined search party of residents and officers still combing the area for an eight-year-old girl who was kidnapped last week.
Masango urged the community to “devise deliberate strategies” to protect children from predators lurking in quiet corners of rural Eswatini.
He said the incident, which occurred on May 21 while the girl was walking with other children, should be a wake-up call for all communities to step up their game when it comes to child safety.
Addressing residents under a grey Jericho sky, the country’s top cop encouraged parents, guardians and Community Police personnel to map out danger zones in their areas and make sure children are escorted, especially in risky spots.
“The safety of our children cannot be left to chance,” he was quoted as saying.
Masango commended the community for not giving up and remaining united in the ongoing search, describing their commitment as “heroic.”
He promised that police would leave no stone unturned. “While the search is ongoing, there are also other investigations that the Police Service is conducting in relation to the missing child, and we have even informed our counterparts in the SAPS,” he revealed.
The Commissioner also made a sombre stop at the missing girl’s home, where he met with the grieving family. With empathy and resolve, he offered words of comfort and reassured them that the Royal Eswatini Police Service remained committed to resolving the case.
In a stern warning, Masango cautioned opportunists not to exploit the family’s pain for political mileage or personal agendas. “Let us not allow this family’s trauma to be turned into a stage for manipulation,” he said.
As the #Sikhona movement gains momentum on social media, Jericho and surrounding areas continue to search with a single focus, bringing their child back home.
(Pics by : Royal Eswatini Police Service)
