Swaziland’s
National Police Commissioner Isaac Magagula has reacted angrily to a request
from the Police Staff Association that its executive committee be recognised.
The
Association’s executive was elected on 13 July 2016, but so far has not been
acknowledged by the Swazi police chief.
Magagula
took exception that Staff Association President Isaac Kaire Lukhele had spoken
to the Swazi Observer newspaper about
the matter.
The Observer reported on Wednesday (24
November 2016), ‘The National Commissioner has since decided to remind Kaire
and his executive to be careful in the manner they make public statements.’
The
newspaper quoted Magagula saying, ‘The language being used makes us suspect
this is not the association we expected to be formed but seemingly they are
using unionist language. Their tone is unacceptable and they should be careful
on that. Again, it is a Police Staff Association and not just a police
association and it needs to be corrected.’
The
newspaper reported, ‘Magagula also said there was no way his office or the
national executive would be put under pressure so as to recognise the Police
Staff Association.’
There
have been attempts in the past to form a trade union for police officers. The Swaziland Police Union was declared illegal by
the Swazi Supreme Court in 2009.
At the time, Secretary General of the Union, Khanyakwezwe Mhlanga had written to the
then Commissioner of Police Edgar Hillary and asked for recognition as a
bargaining body of the police. Hillary refused and insisted that the Police
Staff Association was the only authentic bargaining group for the police.
See also
JUDGE
BACKS SWAZI POLICE UNION
SWAZI
POLICE REFUSE TO ARREST COLLEAGUES
SWAZI
POLICE ATTACK ON VIDEO
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