EMAKHOSIKATI,
YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESSES,
PRIME MINISTER,
COUNCILORS,
CHIEFS,
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER,
CHIEF JUSTICE,
CABINET MINISTERS,
EXCELLENCIES, MEMBERS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS,
PRESIDING OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT,
REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE MANZINI REGION,
NATIONAL COMMISSIONER & ALL RANKS OF THE ROYAL SWAZILAND POLICE,
CHIEFS OF POLICE FROM THE SADC REGION,
PARENTS AND INVITED GUESTS,
LADIES & GENTLEMEN.
SIYANIVUSELA NONKHE BEKUNENE LAPHA KUMATSAPHA POLICE COLLEGE.
INTRODUCTION
IT IS A PLEASURE FOR US TO JOIN THE POLICE SERVICE OF E-SWATINI TO CELEBRATE THE 15TH POLICE DAY AND ALSO TO WITNESS THE PASSING OUT OF OUR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE DEDICATED THEMSELVES TO SERVING THE NATION.
WE WELCOME ALL FRIENDS AND RELATIVES WHO HAVE COME TO JOIN OUR RECRUITS AS THEY CELEBRATE THIS GREAT EVENT WHICH THEY WILL FOREVER CHERISH IN THEIR LIVES.
WE ALSO WISH TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PRESENCE OF VISITORS AND CHIEFS OF POLICE FROM OTHER SADC COUNTRIES WHO ARE HERE TO SHARE THIS DAY WITH US.
YOUR PRESENCE IS AN INDICATION OF THE HARMONIOUS WORKING RELATIONSHIP AND COMMITMENT THAT EXISTS BETWEEN POLICE SERVICES IN THE REGION.
SAFETY & SECURITY ARCHITECTURE FOR SADC
OUR SADC ORGANISATION HAS PROGRAMMES DESIGNED TO STIMULATE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE REGION.
THE SUCCESS OF THESE PROGRAMMES HINGE LARGELY ON THE ABILITY AND CAPACITY OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO CREATE A SAFETY AND SECURITY ARCHITECTURE AS WELL AS AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS CONDUCIVE FOR INVESTMENT.
WE ARE PLEASED THAT BESIDES THE COLLABORATION AT THE BROADER MULTILATERAL ARENA, MOVES TO BOLSTER SECURITY AT THE BILATERAL LEVEL ARE YIELDING POSITIVE RETURNS, ESPECIALLY IN CONTROLLING THE STOCK THEFT.
SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS FOR SADC SUMMIT
AT TODAY’S OCCASION, IT IS FITTING TO RECOGNIZE AND APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS OF THE POLICE SERVICE AS WELL AS THE OTHER SECURITY ORGANS IN LAYING OUT EXCELLENT SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS DURING THE 36TH SADC SUMMIT.
THESE HIGH STANDARDS OF SAFETY AND SECURITY LEFT A LASTING IMPRESSION ON OUR GUESTS AND PROJECTED A POSITIVE IMAGE OF OUR CAPABILITY AND CAPACITY AS A NATION TO MANAGE AN EVENT OF THIS MAGNITUDE AND IMPORTANCE.
THE POLICE DAY
TODAY’S OCCASION MARKS FIFTEEN (15) YEARS SINCE WE STARTED COMMEMORATING THE POLICE DAY. WE ARE PLEASED TO NOTE THAT OUR POLICE SERVICE OVER THE YEARS HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY ASCENDING TO NEW HEIGHTS IN TERMS OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.
WHEN THE IDEA OF SUCH A DAY WAS CONCEIVED, IT WAS AIMED AT ENABLING THE POLICE SERVICE TO TAKE STOCK OF HOW THE ORGANISATION HAS FARED IN TERMS OF MEETING ITS MANDATE TO THE NATION.
IT WAS ALSO TO ENABLE THE NATION ITSELF, TO GAIN INSIGHTS ON HOW THE POLICE CAN BE SUPPORTED FOR THE FORMULATION OF EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIPS.
WE ARE, THEREFORE, DELIGHTED THAT THE DAY CONTINUES TO BE AN INSPIRATION TO ALL PRESENT AND TO FORMER MEMBERS OF THE POLICE SERVICE.
IT ALSO AFFORDS THE GENERAL PUBLIC THE OPPORTUNITY TO HONOUR POLICE OFFICERS FOR THEIR SELFLESSNESS AND DEDICATION TO THE SERVICE OF THE COUNTRY.
AREAS OF GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT
THE AREAS OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT RECORDED BY THE POLICE SERVICE ARE MANY AND VARIED AND INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO:-
INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
THE ORGANISATION HAS A ROLLING PROGRAMME IN PLACE FOR INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT ENCAPSULATING THE CONSTRUCTION OF MODERN POLICE STATIONS AND SATELLITE POSTS. THIS IS DONE IN ORDER TO BRING POLICE SERVICES CLOSER TO THE PEOPLE.
IN THIS REGARD, GOVERNMENT WILL SUPPORT THE CONTINUED IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAMME SO THAT POLICE SERVICES CAN BE EFFECTIVELY DECENTRALIZED.
NEW TECHNOLOGIES;
ANOTHER ASPECT WHICH HAS BEEN THE HALLMARK OF DEVELOPMENT IS THE EMBRACING OF TECHNOLOGY IN POLICING SYSTEMS WHICH HAS ENSURED THAT THE ORGANISATION KEEPS TRACK WITH ADVANCES IN THIS SPHERE.
NEW TECHNOLOGIES SUCH AS POLICING THROUGH CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION (CCTV’S) WHICH ARE IN FULL USE ALONG SOME OF THE COUNTRY’S ROADS AND HIGHWAYS, HAVE ENHANCED SAFETY AND SECURITY.
THE UPGRADING OF THE “999” POLICE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION SYSTEM TO ALLOW ACCES THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, IS PLAUDABLE.
OUR POLICE SERVICE IS ENCOURAGED TO CONTINUE EXPLORING TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES IN LINE WITH THE COUNTRY’S VISION 2022 THAT DESIRES ALL SECTORS TO PROVIDE SERVICES THAT EQUAL FIRST WORLD COUNTRIES.
DIVERSIFICATION OF POLICE WORK
WE ALSO WISH TO APPLAUD THE DIVERSIFICATION OF ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POLICE SERVICE.
POLICE OFFICERS NOW TAKE AN ACTIVE INTEREST IN MATTERS OF WELFARE THAT AFFECTS MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WITHIN WHICH THEY OPERATE.
OUR POLICE ARE NOW PEOPLE CENTRED AS THEY PLAY THE ROLE OF MEDIATORS TO PARTIES IN CONFLICT, PROVIDE COUNSELING SERVICES TO DISTRESSED PEOPLE AND ARE INVOLVED IN PROJECTS THAT CATER FOR THE NEEDS OF THE DESTITUTE.
PASSING OUT PARADE CEREMONY
THE OTHER FACET OF TODAY’S OCCASION, IS TO FORMALLY COMMISSION THE CONTIGENT OF RECRUITS BEFORE US. THEY HAVE COMPLETED THEIR TRAINING HERE AT POLICE COLLEGE.
THIS IS INDEED A HAPPY OCCASION FOR THE GRADUATES AS THEY ARE GETTING A REWARD FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND PERSEVERANCE.
OATH OF OFFICE
THE RECRUITS HAVE ALREADY TAKEN THE OATH OF OFFICE ARTICULATING THEIR READINESS TO GO OUT TO THE VARIOUS COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY WILL BE ASSIGNED TO BE OF SERVICE TO THE NATION.
THE OATH OF OFFICE ENTAILS THAT YOU WILL BE LOYAL TO THE COUNTRY AND RENDER SERVICE WITH THE HIGHEST DEGREE OF DILIGENCE, INTEGRITY, HONESTY AND COMMITMENT, WHILST ALSO TREATING ALL PEOPLE WITH CIVILITY AND HUMILITY.
WE URGE THAT THIS OATH, TAKEN BEFORE THE ENTIRE NATION, SHOULD ALWAYS REMAIN EMBEDDED IN YOUR MINDS SO THAT YOU NEVER WAIVER IT.
YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT A GOOD POLICE OFFICER IS ONE WHO UNDERSTANDS THE ISSUES AND CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY YOU ARE SERVING. THIS WILL ASSIST YOU IN IDENTIFYING SOLUTIONS THAT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF MEMBERS OF THAT PARTICULAR COMMUNITY.
DISCIPLINE
AS POLICE OFFICERS YOU SHOULD ALWAYS UPHOLD THE VIRTUE OF DISCIPLINE WHICH IS THE CORNERSTONE OF EACH AND EVERY SECURITY SERVICE.
DISCIPLINE ENTAILS RESPECTING YOURSELF AND YOUR PROFESSION AS WELL AS THOSE IN AUTHORITY OVER YOU.
IF YOU LOSE THIS VIRTUE AND START CONDUCTING YOURSELVES IN AN IRRESPONSIBLE MANNER, THE PUBLIC IS LIKELY TO LOSE CONFIDENCE IN THE ENTIRE POLICE SERVICE.
NEED FOR TEAMWORK
AS YOU ARE NEW IN THE FIELD OF POLICING, YOUR SUCCESS HINGES ON LEARNING THE ROPES OF THE TRADE FROM YOUR MORE EXPERIENCED COLLEAGUES AT THE STATIONS WHERE YOU WILL BE POSTED.
THIS WILL ENABLE YOU TO ADAPT AND ADD TANGIBLE VALUE TO THE OPERATIONS OF THE POLICE SERVICE. YOU SHOULD THUS BE ABLE TO WORK AS A TEAM WITH YOUR SENIORS AND COMBINE YOUR EFFORTS EFFECTIVELY.
GENERAL CONDUCT
IN THE DISCHARGE OF YOUR DUTIES, YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT POLICE OFFICERS ARE ALWAYS EXPECTED TO BE EXEMPLARY IN THEIR CONDUCT AT ALL TIMES AND BE APPROACHABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO NEED THEIR ASSISTANCE.
IN RENDERING SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC, ALWAYS BEAR IT IN MIND THAT THE NATURE OF THE PROFESSION YOU HAVE CHOSEN MEANS THAT YOU ARE ON DUTY 24/7.
APPRECIATION FOR SUPPORT OF THE NATION
WE ENCOURAGE THE NATION TO CONTINUE ASSISTING AND SUPPORTING THE POLICE SERVICE. MAY THIS SPIRIT OF GOODWILL CONTINUE UNABATED, BECAUSE WITHOUT IT, IMPROVING THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OUR COUNTRY WOULD ELUDE US.
CONCLUSION
WE HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY DELIGHTED TO BE IN YOUR MIDST HERE AT POLICE COLLEGE TODAY AND HAVE ENJOYED ALL THE ACTIVITIES PLACED AT OUR DISPOSAL – ESPECIALLY THE EXQUISITE DRILLS WE HAVE WITNESSED.
THE CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION INVOLVED IN THE TRAINING PROCESS IS COMMENDABLE AND YOUR INSTRUCTORS HAVE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB.
WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS WHO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR SERVICE IN MANY WAYS.
TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE POLICE SERVICE, BE ENCOURAGED IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THE NATION IS FULLY BEHIND YOU AND APPRECIATES THE SACRIFICES YOU CONTINUE TO MAKE IN YOUR SERVICE TO THE COUNTRY.
THANK YOU - MAY THE ALMIGHTY GOD BLESS US ALL!!!