STATEMENT BY THE RT HON. PRIME MINISTER

DR B.SIBUSISO DLAMINI

LUBOMBO REGION TURN-BACK CRIME SMART PARTNERSHIP DIALOGUE

AT MATSETSA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF

MONDAY 5 OCTOBER 2015

BantfwabeNkhosi

Cabinet Ministers

BoBabe Tikhulu

Regional Administrator and Convener of the Dialogue

Members of both houses of Parliament

Members of the Business Community

National Commissioner of Police & Members of the Executive Command here present

Regional Commissioners and Police Officers in the Lubombo Region

Distinguished Smart Partners

 

I am pleased to be among all of you here today at this event marking the commencement of the Regional “Turn Back Crime” Smart Partnership Dialogue. This is an initiative aimed at bringing together all sectors of the Swazi Nation to engage in robust discussions and come up with pragmatic ways and strategies of how as a nation we can turn back the tide of crime.

 

The “Turn Back Crime” Campaign was commissioned by the International Police Organisation (INTERPOL), a global policing cooperation and collaboration body where all countries affiliated to the organisation were encouraged to engage in activities and programmes within their jurisdictions, targeted at reducing crime.

I am glad to note that as a country, we have fully embraced and domesticated this Campaign with a formal launch held during the official opening of the SADC Police Games. It is prudent that the Regional Dialogues are organised and held along the principles of the Smart Partnership Dialogue, with the regional forums serving as a build up to a National Crime Symposium and Dialogue to be held on a date to be announced after the completion of the Regional Dialogues.

This Dialogue in Lubombo region serves as the first in a series of similar events to be staged in all regions of the country. On behalf of His Majesty’s Government, may I register my appreciation for your presence in such an important gathering. 

Guided by the wise counsel and leadership of His Majesty the King, Swaziland embodies the philosophy of dialogue to deliberate and come up with novel solutions to issues affecting our Nation. It is our long held tradition and belief as a Nation that dialogue promotes unity while spearheading the sharing of innovative ideas and ideals to realize a broadly shared vision for the country’s growth and development.

It is on this premise that Government in consultation with the National Commissioner of Police saw it fit that the discussions and deliberations on strategies to reverse crime be held along the principles of the Smart Partnership concept, to tap into the input of all Stakeholders to ensure we come up with a roadmap that is shared and embraced by all.

His Majesty’s Vision of a First World country by 2022, which we all share, will be made possible in a conducive environment that allows socio-economic development to flourish by uprooting crime. Where crime is not under effective control, development programmes get stifled. Safety and security remains a core component of attracting foreign direct investment necessary to stimulate economic growth while at the same time allowing domestic businesses to sprout and flourish. 

Crime has wide ranging ill effects not only on the economy, but also on the social fabric of our society. This therefore calls for onslaught measures which are not only effective but comprehensive, leaving nothing to chance. I call upon all sectors of society to embrace all efforts of turning back crime by adhering to the ideals of our time tested National slogans of “Bucala Yindzaba Yetfu Sonkhe” and “Nawe Uliphoyisa”

The primary reason for the dialogues to be regionalised is because whilst crime may intrinsically be connected, its underlying variables and causes vary from region to region. Therefore Smart Partners in the regional dialogues are to identify those crimes that are synonymous with their regions and agree on how best they can be tackled.

The Lubombo Region, for instance, is plagued by crimes such as stock theft which has endured a long time yet it is devastating given the value we Swazis attach to livestock. His Majesty’s Government commends and appreciates the collaborative efforts of Police, community leaders and Community Police in curbing this scourge.

The theft of copper wire and other metals used by entities that provide key services such as telecommunication, electricity and water as well as those in the agricultural sector, is also a serious concern given its ravaging impact on the overall economy.

There is also the ever present yet unacceptable spectre of domestic violence and the Sexual Abuse of Women and Children which is a threat to the sustainability of our communities. When women and children are affected in such a disconcerting and evil manner, we have all the reason to speed up our efforts to find remedial measures.

Illegal hunting of game is another crime which not only endangers our rich biodiversity heritage, but also has a negative spin-off on the economy by affecting the tourism industry.

Drug cultivation and trafficking also features prominently in the crime terrain not only of this region but the country as a whole. This is a regrettable scenario given the detrimental effects of drugs on the wellbeing of our society.

Indeed, quick turnaround solutions are needed to put this scourge under control. His Majesty’s Government appreciates all sectors of society that are working tirelessly to rid our country of this scourge which has a potential of destroying our children and their future. These include non-Governmental Organizations such as the Association of Students against Drug Abuse and Trafficking (SADAT) which is playing a key role in mobilizing school children to refrain from indulging in drugs.

All these forms of crimes and many others I have not mentioned, are to be deliberated by Smart Partners during these dialogues, so that a lasting and feasible solution for their reduction and eventual eradication may be identified sooner. 

In this regard, we wish to thank the members of the business community as well as captains of Industry who have rallied behind and supported this noble initiative in various ways. Their gesture is commended and appreciated by His Majesty’s Government as it is in line with the Business Against Crime concept which is all about businesses joining hands with Government and the Police to fight the scourge of crime.

We note with appreciation the strides being taken by the Business Community here in the Lubombo region in putting to practice this concept. We have gathered that just last week, there was a dinner held to officially launch the Big Bend Business Against Crime Forum as well to raise funds for the Forum’s crime prevention programmes. Such initiatives are applauded and we hope members of the Business Community in other parts of the country will emulate what has been done by the business sector in Big Bend.

Dialogue Convener and Smart Partners, may I take this opportunity to wish you fruitful deliberations. We are confident that this and other regional dialogues to come, will have a positive impact in changing Swaziland’s crime landscape for the better.

It is now my singular honour and priviledge to declare the Lubombo “Turn Back Crime” Smart Partnership Dialogue officially opened.

Thank you. May God bless us all.