Mbabane: Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini failed to crack the whip or at least call to order members of the security forces from wild range of reported brutality to citizens during the ongoing lockdown.
Local newspapers have continuously reported on members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS), Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) and His Majesty’s Correctional Services’ officers’ brutal whipping of citizens who violate the COVID-19 regulations. Members of the security forces were sent to the streets to ensure EmaSwati adhere to lockdown regulations which include among others wandering without intention during the initial lockdown announcement on March 27, 2020.
Instead, when asked on the brutality, the head of government said he would have to get a version from the police before insisting that the long arm of the law will definitely put to effect for Covid-19 regulations violators.
“The police have been sent to make sure citizens follow the rules laid out by government like social distancing. If one fails to adhere, the law will rule. People must advice each other on the regulations,” he said.
Currently Eswatini has extended the partial lockdown by 21 days in a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19, of which Eswatini has 16 confirmed cases. Eight have recovered from the deadly pandemic while there has been no death recorded.
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