Sicelo Dlamini, the Member of Parliament for Mayiwane, has made allegations that some police stations in the country are currently being influenced and controlled by drug dealers and Asian nationals.
Dlamini said this was allegedly happening mostly in the northern Hhohho Region.
He claimed that police officers were being threatened with transfers by drug dealers, only for the station executives to later carry out those transfers, particularly during weekends.
He said there had also been cases where people were arrested after having altercations with Asian nationals.
Dlamini shared his experience, stating that he had travelled to Manzini over the weekend after buying a mobile phone which later turned out to be faulty. He said he returned to the shop, which was owned by an Asian national.
“The Asian national told me to stand there and then called a police executive on me. I was shocked because he should have called the station commander. How many locals are in prison because they had a commotion with the executive?” he said.
He further alleged that police officers sometimes provided security during birthday celebrations for some Asian nationals.
“Drug dealers in northern Hhohho are regarded as legitimate businesspeople,” he added.
Dlamini also alleged that drug dealers were not being arrested in the northern Hhohho region and claimed that a particular station commander there was not being held accountable.
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He further alleged that the same drug dealers were paying allegiance to certain individuals in Mbabane.
According to Dlamini, police officers conducting roadblocks at Msahweni had also been instructed to remove them at Plantation.
He said the police appeared to be silent on these issues, adding that it was impossible to effectively fight crime if those tasked with combating it were allegedly involved in it.
Dlamini urged the prime minister to investigate the matter by opening a formal inquiry and consulting police officers stationed at Pigg’s Peak Police Station regarding the allegations.
“There is a lot going wrong at that station and it is creating a bad image for the police service.
“This must come to an end,” he said.
He added that the public should condemn anyone who used the police service for personal interests.
“We frown upon anyone who uses the police to perform personal stunts,” he said.
