BY GCWALISILE MHLABANE
MBABANE- The Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) has issued a renewed appeal to parents and guardians to report missing children immediately, warning that children under the age of 18 continue to account for the majority of missing persons cases recorded in the country.
Speaking on Eswatini TV’s Kusile Breakfast Show on July 16, 2026, Inspector Zwakele Dlamini of the Domestic Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit said while anyone can go missing, police have observed an alarming trend involving children and teenagers. He attributed many of the disappearances to domestic violence, child abuse, peer influence, underage relationships and human trafficking.
Dlamini said many children who disappear are often trying to escape difficult circumstances at home.
“Most of the time, the child is crying out for help. They have been speaking up, but they are not being heard. Domestic violence and child abuse force many children to run away from home,” he said.
He explained that police investigations have revealed that some children leave home after experiencing abuse or neglect, while others are persuaded by friends or secretly leave to be with romantic partners.
However, Dlamini cautioned the public against assuming that every missing child has voluntarily run away.
“We must never jump to conclusions. Serious criminal elements often emerge once a child goes missing. Sometimes we find they were kidnapped, trafficked or subjected to other crimes,” he said.
The inspector said REPS has investigated numerous cases involving children who were lured with false promises before being trafficked or exploited, while others were taken across Eswatini’s borders into neighbouring countries.
He noted that through close collaboration with regional law enforcement agencies, police have successfully traced and reunited several children with their families. In some instances, victims managed to contact authorities after realising that the opportunities they had been promised were fraudulent.
Despite these successes, Dlamini acknowledged that some missing children have still not been found.
“There are still children whose cases we continue to investigate and who have not yet been found. We remain committed to pursuing every lead until those cases are resolved,” he said.
He also expressed concern over preventable tragedies involving younger children who wander away after being left unattended or under the supervision of other minors.
According to Dlamini, police continue to receive heartbreaking reports of children drowning, being struck by vehicles or suffering other fatal accidents after briefly slipping out of their parents’ sight.
“Parents have the legal responsibility to protect their children. Even if you leave for a short time, the child must be left with someone capable of looking after them,” he said.
He urged parents to exercise extra caution whenever children are playing near rivers, roads or other hazardous areas, stressing that young children can disappear within moments.
Dlamini also dispelled the long-standing misconception that families must wait several hours before reporting a missing child.
“There is absolutely no waiting period. The moment you realise your child is missing and something is not right, report it immediately. Those first few hours are critical because they can make the difference between finding the child safe and allowing criminals more time to move them,” he said.
He explained that once a report is made, police immediately register the case, record statements and launch search operations while coordinating with relevant stakeholders to maximise the chances of locating the child safely.
Dlamini concluded by urging parents, educators, community leaders and the public to work together to safeguard children by listening to their concerns, strengthening family support systems and reporting suspicious activities without delay.
He said protecting children is a collective responsibility, adding that prompt reporting, vigilant communities and strong cooperation with law enforcement remain the most effective tools in preventing child disappearances, combating human trafficking and ensuring more children are safely reunited with their families.
#EswatiniPositiveNews #REPS #ProtectOurChildren #MissingChildren #ChildProtection #CommunitySafety #StopHumanTrafficking #Eswatini
(Courtesy Pic)
