Murders in Swaziland are on the rise and cases of
armed robberies and sexual violence are being reported ‘with a disturbing level
of frequency and regularity’, the kingdom’s police commissioner said on
Wednesday (30 May 2018).
On average 61 women were reported raped each month and
there were 180 aggravated murders since January 2017 (an average of 10 per
month), Isaac Magagula told a crime prevention awareness campaign at Nkhaba.
Magagula also said 227 armed robberies were reported
in the same period.
His comments came on the same day that separately the
United States in its annual
report on crime and safety in Swaziland labelled Mbabane, the
capital city, a ‘critical-threat location’.
Magagula said, ‘At this Campaign, we must state that
murder cases are on the rise with cases of aggravated murders, armed robberies
and sexual violence being reported with a disturbing level of frequency and
regularity.’
He added that the majority of murders occurred in
drinking spots and bars.
The Swazi Observer
reported (31 May 2018),
‘He said the police service will be robust in conducting raids and ensuring
that illegal drinking spots are closed and that bars operate within the
parameters of their licenses.’
The Police Commissioner spoke about the
number of ritual killings that had taken place in Swaziland in the
run-up to this year’s national election. People reportedly have been killed so
their body parts can be used in ‘muti’ to bring good luck.
The Observer
reported, ‘He said since 2017 to-date five cases that can be associated with
this belief have been recorded with the most shocking incident being the one
that unravelled at Mafutseni over the weekend, where a 16-year-old boy had his
throat slit in a suspected ritual murder attempt.’
The Times
of Swaziland reported on
Thursday (31 May 2018) Magagula stated that there were 1,046 rape cases
reported in the past 17 months.
It added, ‘The national commissioner stated that the
most harrowing, are the cases where young children and elderly women are
subjected to the horror of rape. “Also mindboggling are cases where biological
fathers rape
their own daughters, which is incomprehensible to say the least,”
Magagula said.’
The crime prevention campaign took place on the same
day the United States released its annual report on crime and safety in Swaziland.
As in past years it labelled Mbabane as a ‘critical-threat location’. The
report is aimed at US diplomats visiting the kingdom.
The Bureau of
Diplomatic Security reported, ‘The general crime rate [in Swaziland]
is above the U.S. national average. Although criminals consider Mbabane and
Manzini prime grounds for operation due to the number of people, businesses,
and affluent areas, the rate of crime reported in small towns and rural areas
continues to increase. Urban areas are particularly dangerous at night, and the
presence of pedestrians should not be interpreted as an indication of a
secure/safe environment.
‘Residential burglary and petty theft are the most
commonly reported crimes. They occur at all locations regardless of time.
Criminals are generally interested in cell phones and cash. Most break-ins
occur at homes without security guards and/or centrally monitored home alarm
systems.’
It added, ‘Criminals usually brandish edged weapons
(knives or machetes), but the use of firearms has steadily increased in the
past few years. While criminals generally rely on the threat of force to commit
crimes, they will resort to physical, to include deadly, force if victims resist.’
The report added, ‘Police response time
to incidents is slow when compared to the U.S., unless the police are in the
general area where the incident occurred. Police consider a 30-minute response
time adequate, even in urban areas. Police are generally willing to assist but
often lack transportation and resources to properly respond to, or investigate,
crimes.’
See also
MORE
CRIME FEARS IN SWAZILAND
SWAZILAND
A WORLD HOTSPOT FOR CRIME
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