MBABANE – Former Chief Police Information and Communications Officer (PICO) Khulani Sydney Mamba has broken his silence on allegations that he leaked a police security operation order during the 2021 unrest.
The former police mouthpiece has disclosed how the incident affected him emotionally, revealing that the accusations left him in tears before his superiors at Police Headquarters.
In a lengthy Facebook post, Mamba recounted how he found himself at the centre of allegations after a security operation order he had prepared while acting as the Hhohho operations officer was published by Swaziland News. The operation order related to security arrangements for court proceedings involving pro-democracy former Members of Parliament Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube at the height of the country’s unrest.
Mamba said the controversy began when he was distributing the document to Hhohho station commanders through WhatsApp. However, he said he accidentally sent it to a pastors’ WhatsApp group known as “Iron Sharpens Iron” instead of the intended recipients. According to Mamba, he immediately deleted the document after realising the mistake.
Despite this, Mamba alleged that a member of the group accused him of intentionally sharing the document so that it could reach Swaziland News. He said when the publication subsequently carried a story based on the operation order, suspicion quickly fell on him.
“I was automatically made the suspect,” Mamba wrote, adding that his bosses refused to hear his side of the story despite his explanations. He said the situation became so emotionally overwhelming that he cried in front of his superiors at Police Headquarters.
The former police spokesperson further alleged that the leadership of the police service escalated the matter to the Civil Service Commission, accusing him of leaking a security document.
Mamba said the allegations were particularly painful because they came after years of service to the police organisation. He noted that during nearly five years as police spokesperson, he had never before been accused of leaking confidential information and had consistently defended the organisation during difficult periods.
He said he felt betrayed by an institution he had served loyally, describing how he was treated as a spy despite what he says was an accidental mistake.
In the post, Mamba maintained that he never deliberately leaked the document and insisted he had remained loyal to the country, authorities and REPS. He expressed confidence that he would one day be vindicated.
“We sure need a Madlanga Commission in the Kingdom of Eswatini,” Mamba wrote, emphasizing that he remains loyal and continues to serve God.
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