Law enforcement in Swaziland

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Law enforcement in the Kingdom of Swaziland is the primarily the responsibility of the Royal Swaziland Police Service (RSPS; Swazi : Silihawu Lembube NeSive), which oversees internal security as well as border and customs control, and His Majesty's Correctional Services (HMCS), which is tasked with maintaining and guarding prisons. It is estimated that about 35% of Swazi government employees work in the security services. The country has been part of INTERPOL since October 1975 and the organization has an office in the capital of Swaziland, Mbabane.

Swazi language language

The Swazi, Swati or siSwati language is a Bantu language of the Nguni group spoken in the Kingdom of eSwatini and South Africa by the Swazi people. The number of speakers is estimated to be in the region of 12 million. The language is taught in eSwatini and some South African schools in Mpumalanga, particularly former KaNgwane areas. Swazi is an official language of eSwatini, and is also one of the eleven official languages of South Africa.

Mbabane Place in Hhohho, Eswatini

Mbabane is the capital and largest city in Eswatini. With an estimated population of 94,874 (2010), it is located on the Mbabane River and its tributary the Polinjane River in the Mdzimba Mountains. It is located in the Hhohho Region, of which it is also the capital. The average elevation of the city is 1243 meters. It lies on the MR3 road.

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History

Founded in 1907 when the territory was under British rule, the Royal Swaziland Police Force initially consisted of 22 European officers along with 125 African Zulus, under Captain C.H. Gibson. A police training school was established in Mbabane in 1927 and a modern training college was built in 1965 at Matsapha. During the independence celebrations in 1968 King Sobhuza II renamed it into the Royal Swaziland Police Service, with the legal document that established the organization being the Police Act No. 29/1957. [1] [2]

United Kingdom Country in Europe

The United Kingdom (UK), officially the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and sometimes referred to as Britain, is a sovereign country located off the north-western coast of the European mainland. The United Kingdom includes the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland, and many smaller islands. Northern Ireland is the only part of the United Kingdom that shares a land border with another sovereign state, the Republic of Ireland. Apart from this land border, the United Kingdom is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, with the North Sea to the east, the English Channel to the south and the Celtic Sea to the south-west, giving it the 12th-longest coastline in the world. The Irish Sea lies between Great Britain and Ireland. With an area of 242,500 square kilometres (93,600 sq mi), the United Kingdom is the 78th-largest sovereign state in the world. It is also the 22nd-most populous country, with an estimated 66.0 million inhabitants in 2017.

The Zulu are a Bantu ethnic group of Southern Africa and the largest ethnic group in South Africa, with an estimated 10–12 million people living mainly in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. Small numbers also live in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania and Mozambique.

Matsapha is a town in central Eswatini. The Matsapha urban boundary is defined in the Urban Government Act of 1969, and it was amended in 2012, and it covers an area approximately 2,000 hectares. Matsapha was established as an industrial park in 1965 but was official gazetted as an urban area in 1969. Matsapha is located in the Upper Middleveld of Eswatini. It is located in the Manzini region, which is in the centre of the country. Matsapha is located 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) from Manzini, which is the country's commercial capital and is located 35 kilometres (22 mi) from Mbabane, the administrative capital of the country. It is well located as it lies on Eswatini's main east–west axis between South Africa and Mozambique and 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) from the junction of the Lavumisa road that leads to Durban and KwaZulu Natal. It lies at an altitude of 625 metres (2,051 ft) above sea level.

Organization

Both the RSPS and HMCS are directly commanded by the King of Swaziland, who serves as the commander-in-chief of both the armed forces and law enforcement agencies. [3] The RSPS is formally part of the office of the Prime Minister of Swaziland, but the head of the service, the Police Commissioner, answers directly to the King who is the police commander-in-chief. [2]

Commander-in-chief supreme commanding authority of a military

A commander-in-chief, sometimes also called supreme commander, is the person that exercises supreme command and control over an armed forces or a military branch. As a technical term, it refers to military competencies that reside in a country's executive leadership – a head of state or a head of government.

The executive command of the RSPS, under the Police Commissioner and two vice commissioners, is based in Mbabane, while there are four regional police departments. Subordinated to the four regional headquarters are 23 police stations, 22 police posts, and 12 border posts, as well as one airport security monitoring post. There is also a support unit and a police college subordinated to the executive command. [4] The HCMS consists of fourteen offices, including the training college and the head office. [5]

Police regional organization: [4]

RegionStationPostBorder Post
HhohhoMbabane
Pigg’s Peak
Lobamba
Horo
Bulembu
Mbabane City Post
Mbabane post
The Gables
Ezulwini
Ngwenya
Bulembu
Matsamo
ManziniManzini
Matsapha
Mliba
Mafutseni
Malkerns
Mankayane
Sidvokodvo
Bhunya
Manzini Bus Rank
Satellite Bus Rank
Mhlambanyatsi
Mahlangatsha
Lushikishini
Fairview North
Luve
Riverstone police post
Lundzi
Sandlane
Matsapha Airport
LubomboSiteki
Tshaneni
Lomahasha
Big Bend
Siphofaneni
Simunye
Lubulini
Mpaka
Ngomane
Shewula
St. Philips
Sithobela
Tikhuba
Mlawula
Matata
Mhlumeni
Mananga
Lomahasha
ShiselweniNhlangano
Hlathikhulu
Lavumisa
Hluthi
Gege
Ka-Phunga
Mahlalini
Dumako
Debedebe
Sigwe
Matimatima
Jericho
Lavumisa
Mahamba
Gege
Sicunusa
Nsalitje

Function and accountability

According to a report from the U.S. Department of State in early 2017, law enforcement personnel are generally professional but are susceptible to corruption and political pressure. The police force has a problem with corruption and although an internal investigation was conducted into this, the results were not made public. [3]

The objectives of the RSPS are as follows: [2]

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References

  1. Brief History of The ROYAL SWAZILAND POLICE SERVICE. Police official website. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 Swaziland. INTERPOL. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  3. 1 2 Swaziland: Security Forces 'Not Under Control'. AllAfrica. Published 22 March 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  4. 1 2 Operations. Police website. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  5. Correctional Services. Government official website. Retrieved 29 March 2017.