STATEMENT BY THE RT HON PRIME MINISTER
DR B.SIBUSISO DLAMINI
AT THE END OF YEAR POLICE CONFERENCE
AT THE POLICE HEADQUARTERS, MBABANE
FRIDAY 19 DECEMBER 2014
National Commissioner of Police
Senior Police Officers
Senior Civilian Support Staff
Ladies and Gentlemen
As Minister responsible for the Royal Swaziland Police Service, and indeed as Head of Government, I am very pleased to be with you all today as you, the senior Police officers and senior Civilian Support Staff, share thoughts in this End-of-Year Conference.
The Conference is part retrospective, part introspective and part prospective. In other words, your task is to review the events and your own performance over the past year, look critically and constructively at what there is to be learned from that review, and project ahead to see how those revelations can be converted into an increasingly effective and efficient Police Service. And, by conversion into increased effectiveness and efficiency, I mean developing clear, concrete strategies and time-bound action plans to further enhance the safety and security of our people.
As a time-proven technique to remind all officers of the overall thrust of the future programme a new mantra has been chosen. For next year it is – “Siyavutsa Bhe Ngalokungakavami” meaning that our Police will be blazing hot – not literally of course – and have zero tolerance regarding all forms of crime, anti-social behaviour and conduct that leads to fatalities on our roads. This time last year we coined the mantra “Siyavutsa Bhe” which captured a similar strategy of intensified crime prevention and robust dealing with crime and unacceptable conduct at the wheel of vehicles on our roads.
With regard to the past year, we can reflect with some pride on our success in the breaking of organized crime syndicates that had hitherto been responsible for serious criminal activity. But it has to be said that the incidence of murder, armed robbery and rape still screams out at us from the pages of the print media, telling us that there is too high an incidence of serious crime.
The Police Service is not responsible for that but does have a contribution to make in achieving solutions. In the first instance it has to continue developing strategies in the area of its crime prevention work. Over the past year our Police Service has expanded visibility policing in residential and commercial areas which has achieved the combined effect of deterrence to would-be criminals and reassurance to the general public. The outreach campaigns and closer collaboration with community policing has achieved a similar effect outside those areas.
The number of serious road accidents that have occurred on our highways continues to be unacceptably high. Again, the incidence of such accidents cannot, under any circumstances, be related exclusively to the effectiveness of Police operations. But our Police Service is one of a number of agencies that have a role to play.
Time and again we are seeing media reports blaming excessive speed or defective vehicles, or both, for the serious road accidents. And every life lost is one too many. Our Police Service has a valuable role to play in the prevention of such accidents through increased vigilance and intensive roadside checks, where necessary in collaboration with the respective Government institutions. We see ample evidence of drink-driving being brought to book which must undoubtedly be sending a very clear signal to would-be offenders, although it is evident from the details published in the print media, that not all road users have hitherto taken the matter seriously.
The intensified level of Police activity in this area is undoubtedly bringing to prosecution many drivers who would otherwise remain dangerously loose on our roads to continue that irresponsible behaviour. As in any initiative or process, we should always look introspectively and, in this case, make sure that our processes check thoroughly that every offending driver is subjected to the due process of the law.
Driving dangerously, even when not intoxicated, and being at the wheel of a defective vehicle are also unacceptably hazardous activities that threaten the safety of innocent members of our society. We must not merely air our concern regarding the level of carnage on our roads but also examine carefully whether the statistics of prosecution of offenders reflects the true extent of this kind of unacceptable behaviour. Frankly, the general public is likely to want to see the statistics and outcomes of Police vigilance in speed monitoring and roadside vehicle checking, just as much as for drink-driving.
Furthermore, we need that our licence renewal inspections are watertight and to the requisite standard. A public transport vehicle being taken off the road, for such defects as faulty brakes and steering, could amount to preventing 15 lives being lost a matter of hours later. If we put it in those terms we can see how crucially important is the tight monitoring and scrutiny of driving standards, and the state of vehicles, on our roads, as well as the quality of the roads themselves. A number of agencies, over and above the Police, have a role to play in this process.
And where a public institution is found wanting in any material respect the necessary remedial measures have to be put in place. The Commission of Enquiry that was established to investigate the causes of the dreadful road accident that occurred on the Malagwane in April this year identified a number of remedial measures. The Police Service was not excluded from criticism and I am assured that the implementation of remedial action is underway and given a very high priority.
In almost any sphere of activity, a day without learning is, in a sense, a day wasted. It is commendable that our Police Service is embracing a learning organization philosophy with large numbers graduating annually in various disciplines from the University of Swaziland and other tertiary institutions.
There are, in fact, many Police initiatives underway at the present time and I would like to mention a few of the ways in which we look to our Government partners providing the necessary support.
We look forward to the promulgation in the near future of two important pieces of legislation that relate directly to our Police Service. The Police Bill has been tabled before Parliament and we trust that it will very soon be passed for the Royal Assent. The Crime Prevention Bill, on the other hand, is in the final drafting stage, was reviewed in last week’s Cabinet Retreat, and is expected for formal Cabinet review in the very near future and thence to Parliament.
Infrastructure and equipment developments will also be reviewed and prioritized to embrace a package of more Police Satellite Posts, an increase in vehicle fleet and operational equipment, and a further phase in the establishment of a fully functional Forensic Science Laboratory.
It will be general knowledge that the Civil Service is currently conducting a salary review exercise and I am sure our Police Service will present a fair case for adequate recognition of its responsibilities when salaries and allowances are reviewed. In a separate initiative – the Institutional Housing Project – we will be looking forward to that project making a significant contribution towards addressing the accommodation shortage in the Police Service. As part of the Police officer’s overall “package,” so to speak, there has to be adequate insurance cover for injury and loss of life in the line of duty. The Ministry responsible for processing this initiative has commenced the detailed work of identifying rules of access and rates payable per accident, and I urge the very speedy resolution of these issues so that insurance cover becomes fully operational in the very near future.
Criminal activity not only ignores the law but also national borders. The participation and membership in regional and international bodies is of invaluable assistance in dealing with cross border crime as well as staying in touch with generally accepted standards and practices. I hope that available resources will not inhibit us in this area.
Similarly, our membership of Interpol is proving valuable. At this year’s 83rd Interpol General Assembly in Monaco a number of significant declarations were made relating to the technological needs of Police Services and the support required to tackle emerging challenges such as cybercrime.
International collaboration is invariably enhanced by joining in the various sporting competitions under the regional organization, SARPCCO. Government has seen fit to host the next SARPCCO Games and I am assured that training across all track and field events has already started!
As I conclude, let me thank in advance the Police Service, as other essential services, for the personal sacrifices that officers will make over the festive season to reinforce the safety and security measures in place for the benefit of our people. In so doing, may I urge our Police Service to make its very best effort to ensure our people and our visitors enjoy a “Crime and Fatal Accidents Free Festive Period.” I also urge the Police Service to work hand in hand with the other security forces to ensure that the highest level of security arrangements are put in place for the coming Incwala Ceremony.
Time is short and you all have much to discuss, so I will conclude by thanking the Police Service for its support for the Nation, and wishing all participants a fruitful Conference and the implementation of “Siyavutsa Bhe Ngalokungakavami.”
Thank you.