… Says security forces will continue to be ever present
BY PHUMELELE MKHONTA
MBABANE – A generally peaceful day!
This is an assessment by Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Themba Masuku, who said despite a few skirmishes, today was generally a peaceful day. He said this this evening at a Press Briefing that was held at Cabinet in Mbabane.
“We would like to thank the nation for working together with government to ensure that Eswatini remains safe for all its inhabitants. Government would like to categorically state that we are committed to ensuring that the rights of emaSwati to ply their trade, to feed their families, to send their children to school and access critical health and other services will continue to be her priority.
“We note that today was generally peaceful, despite a few skirmishes as a result of provocation from those few individuals who decided not to heed government’s pronouncement about the illegal protest march and that no one should engage in it,” assessed DPM.
Masuku went on to say His Majesty’s Government would particularly like to acknowledge the role played by State security officers in maintaining peace, the rule of law and order across the country, despite several attempts by small groups of people to disrupt operations.
The DPM went on to say even those who did not physically see the State security officers in their areas, there was surveillance covering all areas to ensure their safety and protection.
“That is why we want to continue to appeal to the nation to use emergency numbers, fulfilling the siSwati adage that you are your brother’s keeper (nawe uliphoyisa).
“We would like to ask the nation to be always vigilant and make sure that we continue to work together to defeat those who are hell-bent to disturbing the safety and social welfare of the nation.
“We would also like to thank public transport operators for again rising to the occasion and we want to assure them and the rest of the nation that we will continue to be there for their protection and safety.”
Masuku said they reminded this great nation that tonight, security would be there.
“Security will be present tomorrow and every day, security will continue to be there. And together, we can win. Together, we can continue to build our lives and take care of those who are underprivileged.
“We do want to encourage teachers, school committees and parents to think hard and protect the future of our children, by making sure that schools continue to deliver that critical service to future generations. Education must come first because education comes once. You miss it, you will not recover,” he said.
Concluding his address, the Deputy Prime Minister said from this experience, government hopes emaSwati will learn not to take instructions and orders from faceless people, some of who are living large outside the country, and whose livelihoods are not directly disturbed by the threats they so freely dish out to unsuspecting emaSwati.
“I thank you and may God bless you,” he said in closing.
