Mbabane – A long-awaited engagement between Business Eswatini BE and the Royal Eswatini Police Service REPS has turned attention to emerging crime trends threatening the country’s economic stability, with cybercrime and police impersonation identified as growing risks to business continuity.
The high-level meeting, held at BE offices, was described by both sides as long overdue and marked a shift from symbolic engagement to an action-oriented partnership focused on prevention, intelligence-sharing and social investment.
Leading the REPS delegation on behalf of the National Commissioner of Police, Deputy National Commissioner and Director of Community Safety Wendy Hleta said the police service viewed the engagement as the start of a new phase in public-private cooperation based on trust and mutual accountability.
She opened discussions by acknowledging BE’s recent Appreciation Event at the Malagwane Cooling Station, calling it a rare morale boost for a police service often under public criticism.
“Recognition matters,” Hleta said, noting that the gesture helped create an environment for open and honest dialogue. “When officers feel valued, it strengthens our ability to work transparently with partners who depend on safety and stability.”
Hleta warned that law enforcement alone could not keep pace with these trends without structured collaboration.
“Criminal activity today cuts across sectors and technologies,” she said. “If security responses are not informed by those on the ground in business, we will always be one step behind.”
She also pointed to sector-specific challenges, particularly in logistics and trucking, where issues such as drug trafficking and driver misconduct complicate investigations. According to REPS, closer cooperation with individual companies has already improved safety outcomes in some cases, prompting a push to formalise and expand such partnerships.
The meeting agreed on a framework for sustained cooperation, including quarterly coordination meetings to revive the spirit of the former Private Business Forum, with decisions cascading to regional structures.
Both parties acknowledged that crime prevention is closely linked to social conditions. Youth unemployment, poverty and emerging gangsterism were identified as shared concerns, with BE’s social initiatives, including Vukani BoMake, viewed as complementary to policing efforts.
To strengthen transparency, REPS formally introduced its Crime Prevention dedicated account as an official channel for businesses to submit written requests for support, aligning with BE’s focus on good governance.
BE chief executive officer E. Nathi Dlamini welcomed the partnership, saying the private sector had a responsibility beyond profit-making.
“Our engagement with communities, including the annual Private Sector Prayer, reflects that business is deeply invested in the well-being of this country,” Dlamini said, adding that working closely with REPS is a natural extension of that commitment.
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