Swazi Observer

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RITUAL KILLINGS: NATCOM DECLARES WAR

By Nozipho Sibiya | 2018-05-31

THE National Commissioner of Police Isaac Magagula says the killing of people is now taking centre stage in the country with cases of aggravated murders reaching 180 since January 2017 to yesterday.

He has declared war and further read a riot act to his troops to shake every wall in search for the people responsible for the spate of ritual killings, kidnapping and all forms of violence.

NATCOM was speaking at Nkhaba Inkhundla during a crime prevention awareness campaign yesterday.

“At this Campaign, we must state that murder cases are on the rise with cases of aggravated murders, armed robberies and sexual violence being reported with a disturbing level of frequency and regularity,” he said.

The crime prevention campaign was attended by Members of Parliament Menzi Dlamini, Phesheya Hlatswayo and Esther Dlamini and other government officials. In the morning of the huge event there was a walk from Malolotja to Nkhaba Inkhundla.

Violance

Magagula mentioned that almost every day they wake up to screaming newspaper headlines on various and varied forms of violent crimes that gave chills in the extent of their fearfulness.

“Statistics recorded since January 2017 to date indicate that there have been 180 murders of varied degrees in the country which is a disconcerting and sobering statistics given the modest population of Eswatini and the fact that one life lost is one too many,” he added.

He said what he particularly find disturbing is that a majority of these murders occur for several of reasons which pin points to the fact that people have lost respect for the sanctity of human life.

“For instance, our analysis has brought to the fore that a majority of murders occur in drinking spots and bars which now renders alcohol abuse as a key contributor to the country’s mortality rate,” he said.

He appealed to the nation to have respect for human life as it is sacred and no one can deprive another human being of their right to life.

Crimes

“Taking another person’s life also has wide ranging social implications such as depriving the deceased dependents their source of livelihood,” he appealed.

He advised that if people have any form of misunderstandings, they should rather seek for the mediation of the Police or other relevant social structures instead of resorting to violence. “We also advise against the abuse of alcohol as it is a proven trigger of violence as people are prone to commit the most atrocious of crimes when not in their sober senses.”

He said the police service will be robust in conducting raids and ensuring that illegal drinking spots are closed and that bars operate within the parameters of their licenses.

Nkhaba Member of Parliament Menzi Dlamini thanked the National Commissioner for visiting his Inkhundla and teaching the people under his constituency on crime prevention.

“This campaign will help in curbing down crime. We also thank the police that they have trained 60 community police,” he said.

He also thanked the people of Nkhaba Inkhundla for coming in their numbers to support the campaign.

Magagula condemns the mythical and barbaric belief on the use of human body parts as charms to attract good fortune.

He said since 2017 to-date five cases that can be associated with this belief have been recorded with the most shocking incident being the one that unraveled at Mafutseni over the weekend, where a 16-year-old boy had his throat slit in a suspected ritual murder attempt.

He said the murders linked to the barbaric belief have no place in a modern society such as Eswatini.

“Beliefs of this nature are a huge embarrassment to the country and those harbouring them should be ashamed of themselves,” he criticised. He also mentioned cases of Gender Based Violence (GBV) that manifests mainly through rapes and intimate partner killings (passion killings) aanother obstinate challenge in the country’s overall crime landscape.

“Given the nature of these crimes, particularly the fact that they occur in private spaces, the most viable way of their prevention, is to raise public awareness about their undesirability.”

He said statistics extrapolated from 2017 to date indicate that there have been 1 046 rape cases.

“With regard to cases of intimate partner killings or the so-called passion Killings scourge 39 cases have been recorded in the same period,” he stated.

He said men who rape and beat women are a disgrace to men folk and deserve our strongest condemnation as a Nation.

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