BY SIFISO NHLABATSI
LOBAMBA– Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini has committed that an investigation will be launched in allegations that a police officer has close links with foreign nationals at Matsebula Flats in Manzini.
The Prime Minister stated that there can be no compromise when law enforcement officers are suspected of protecting people who may be involved in wrongdoing.
Dlamini made the commitment in Senate after Senate President Lindiwe Dlamini raised concerns about alleged relationships between a certain police officer and foreign nationals residing at Matsebula Flats.
The Senate President told the Prime Minister that a certain police officer allegedly socialise with the foreign nationals and that such relationships has made the foreigners untouchable and undermine efforts to fight crime.
Responding to the concerns, the Prime Minister said the allegations could not simply be ignored.
He said the allegation that one of the officers was allegedly claiming that he had been promoted, while the foreign nationals with whom he allegedly associated were not being touched by police officers was serious.
Dlamini said the circumstances raised enough concern to warrant an investigation.
“There is no smoke without fire,” the Prime Minister told Senators.
He said the police would investigate the matter, including the alleged promotion of the officer.
Dlamini said he was not aware of the identity of the officer at the time he responded to the question, but undertook to obtain more information.
He also said he would engage the Senate President because she was the person who had raised the matter.
The Prime Minister said allegations that a police officer had links with people who were allegedly being shielded from police action needed to be taken seriously.
He also used the issue to warn law enforcement officers that their conduct is being closely watched.
The Prime Minister said the questions being raised in Senate should serve as a wake-up call for police officers to remain alert and understand that the nation was watching them.
He argued that people who acquire power can sometimes become relaxed and abuse that power.
For him, parliamentary scrutiny should therefore serve as a mechanism to remind officers that authority comes with responsibility.
Dlamini praised the Senate President for raising what he described as key issues affecting the country.
He said such questions demonstrate that police officers should know they are under close scrutiny.
(Courtesy Pic)
