BY MBONO MDLULI
MATSAPHA – Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini hopes the ongoing salary review exercise will put the contentious Phase II impasse to rest.
Speaking today, January 23, 2025, when opening the Senior Police Officers and Senior Civilian Support Staff Conference at Matsapha Police Academy, the premier mentioned the salary review exercise as one of the measures done by Govenrment to make lives easier for police officers. It is important to mention though that the salary review exercise is done for all civil servants, including the police.
“A salary review exercise has been commissioned by Government to address welfare and remuneration packages for the civil service and the appointed Consultant’s terms of reference take into account the contentious issue of security forces Phase II which we hope will be put to rest,” Dlamini said.
The premier also stated that Government had launched the Performance Management System (PMS) to improve civil service. “In inculcating a culture of excellence and high performance in the civil service, we have launched a Performance Management System which is piloted in specially selected departments and is under continuous monitoring and evaluation for the optimization of its function and success,” he said.
He said they were aware of some existing challenges that could hamper effective policing, hence the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) was lauded for its commitment to serving Emaswati. He said the recent supply of a new fleet of motor vehicles was a way of motivating staff in Government departments to effectively discharge their duties by availing much needed resources. This was coupled with the resolution to make payments to most goods and service suppliers so that the Government machinery could function at optimum levels.
The premier also highlighted that Government worked tirelessly to address the issue of infrastructure development, which incorporated the accommodation and housing challenge afflicting not only REPS, but the entire public service workforce. “A new design of housing units is already being piloted by the Housing department and we hope it will ease the accommodation dilemma,” he said.
Dlamini said during Sibaya, His Majesty and Ingwenyama charged Government to confront corruption head-on after multitudes had raised a lot of concerns on the issue of corruption, its effects on service delivery and the overall impact on economic growth and development. In response to that call, he said Government had taken significant steps in response to this directive and established and empowered the Anti-corruption Task Team through strengthening its investigation and prosecution capacity.
A significant number of cases have been opened, and some arrests effected and warrants of arrests issued for suspected perpetrators, according to the PM. The prime minister expressed worry on the continued prevalence of Gender Based Violence (GBV) and other related violent crimes of passion like murder, suicide, rape and other sexual violations and abuse, which posed a serious concern for a country renowned for its hospitality and respect. “Practical remedial solutions to this scourge should be devised, adopted and enforced as a matter of urgency to alleviate the prevailing situation,” Dlamini said.
