BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – The Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) has urged Manzini Region chiefs to help them in fighting crime in their respective chiefdoms.
The REPS, through Police National Commissioner (NatCom) Manoma Vusie Masango, made this plea today (Thursday, October 24, 2024) when police met the chiefs at Tum’s George Hotel. Present during the meeting was also the leadership of the Manzini Regional Headquarters and all station commanders.
During the meeting, Natcom urged all station commanders to work hand in hand with all traditional authorities in their station areas. ”Building trust and transparency between the #Police and the #people they serve is vital to community stability, officer’s safety and effective policing,’’ Masango said.
Chiefs were urged to ensure that criminal activities such as Gender Based Violence be reported with promptness. Masango said tibi tendlu (family secrets) should be a thing of the past in communities, as concealing abuse cases in the communities could lead to violent crimes.
Meanwhile, the Royal Eswatini Police Service has on Tuesday (October 22, 2024) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Eswatini Financial Investigations Unit (EFIU) to bolster the efforts to combat crime and enhance the exchange of critical information.
The signing of the MoU, officiated under the auspices of Interpol, which has recently expanded its I-24/7 Global Communications System to its 196 members, including Eswatini, is in response to the increasing complexity of Transnational Organised Crimes presenting in financial crimes, including money laundering, fraud, and the financing of terrorism.
In attendance was the Acting Director at Eswatini Financial Investigations Unit Bongani Ntshalintshali, the Head of Monitoring and Analysis Bheki Khumalo, and the Director: Fraud and Commercial Unit within #REPS, Assistant Commissioner Nicholas Jele. NatCom Masango signed this agreement to formalise a partnership that enables #EFIU to source intelligence and investigative techniques. Masango expressed optimism about the partnership.
“This innovative system provides #REPS and #EFIU investigators with real-time access to vital intelligence on criminal activities, financial transactions, and passport information related to suspected criminals,” Masango said. Through such enhanced communication and cooperation, #REPS and Eswatini Financial Investigations Unit are poised to make significant strides in their mission to combat crime.
