The Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) joined the global policing community in honouring officers who lost their lives in the line of duty during the INTERPOL International Day of Commemoration for Fallen Officers.
During the national memorial held at the Police Headquarters in Mbabane yesterday, officers paused in silence to remember their colleagues who gave the ultimate sacrifice while protecting the public and upholding the law.
The commemoration was part of a worldwide initiative led by INTERPOL, which unites police services across nations every year to pay tribute to officers who died in service.
Police from different countries commemorate the day under the shared symbol of blue, the colour representing international policing.
Making his remarks during the event, Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini paid tribute to officers who died in various circumstances.
“Some were hit by vehicles while manning roadblocks; others were attacked responding to incidents, while some were shot confronting armed criminals.
Others tragically lost their lives while travelling from their bases to duty posts,” he said.
The PM said the fallen officers’ dedication and courage would never be forgotten. He called on officers to honour their colleagues through integrity, professionalism and continued commitment to duty.
He also acknowledged the families and colleagues who continue to bear the loss, emphasising the importance of supporting those who remain in service.
“This day reminds us that policing is a profession where protecting others may come at the highest cost.
“Our fallen officers paid the ultimate price so that our communities could be safe. Their sacrifice unites police services not only in Eswatini, but across the world,” he said.
Meanwhile, National Commissioner of Police Manoma Vusi Masango highlighted that the role of a police officer carries immense responsibility and requires great courage.
He said police officers served not for glory or recognition, but out of a deep sense of duty, integrity and compassion for their fellow citizens.
“This year we join the international community in commemorating this important event. The Royal Eswatini Police Service is proud to be part of this initiative of paying tribute to those heroic individuals whose lives were cut short while protecting our communities and upholding the law,” he said.
Masango said the service honoured the memories of the fallen officers by acknowledging the profound impact they had on the country and the communities they served with diligence and commitment.
“As we remember those who have fallen, we must see them as more than officers in uniform. They were fathers, mothers, sons and daughters, friends and upstanding members of our communities,” he said.
The police chief also paid tribute to the families of the deceased officers, saying their strength, resilience and sacrifice should never be overlooked.
Masango urged the nation to remember the fallen heroes and heroines for their unwavering commitment to duty and their willingness to place themselves in harm’s way to keep the country safe.
“Let us commit ourselves to nurturing the values they represented—integrity, professionalism and service. We must work together to build communities where peace prevails and where those who serve us are respected in their dignity and duty,” he said.
He also encouraged officers who were still in active service to continue upholding the principles of justice, equality and service that bind society together. Masango said it was his wish that the memory and hard work of the fallen officers would always be honoured.
“We will always remember the contribution they made to the Royal Eswatini Police Service,” he said.
