CORRECTIONAL SERVICES OFFICERS UNDER SCRUTINY AS MERCENARIES HUNT FOR PRO-DEMOCRACY SYMPATHIZERS
King Mswati’s mercenaries are reportedly investigating Correctional Services officers, particularly those stationed at Matsapha Prison, in an effort to identify warders who may sympathize with incarcerated pro-democracy activists. This operation comes amid growing concerns about the treatment of political prisoners and the monarchy’s tightening grip on national security.
Sources within the Correctional Services disclosed that officers suspected of supporting imprisoned Members of Parliament (MPs) Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube, as well as alleged Solidarity Forces Commander Thabo Kunene, are being targeted for polygraph testing. The tests are allegedly designed to identify undercover pro-democracy sympathizers who might assist in the release of political prisoners.
“The authorities are suspecting that some of these officers might release the political prisoners, particularly the Commander, at night. The polygraph test is meant to identify those who might be undercover pro-democracy activists,” an insider told Swaziland News.
Superintendent Gugulethu Dlamini, the Correctional Services Spokesperson, and Arno Pienaar, identified as King Mswati’s “Chief Mercenary,” had not responded to requests for comment at the time of compiling this report.
The investigation has drawn widespread criticism from pro-democracy groups and political organizations. Thamsanqa Hlatswako, Secretary General of the Political Parties Assembly (PPA), condemned the harassment of Correctional Services officers, describing the actions as unlawful and an affront to Eswatini’s already fragile justice system.
“The Political Parties Assembly has been inundated with calls from unhappy Swazis working at the country’s Correctional facilities who are being subjected to polygraph tests under the accusations of aiding and abetting political prisoners,” Hlatswako said in a public statement.
He further alleged that the operation is being carried out by four South African mercenaries and two Correctional Services officials. “What is apparent from this act of illegality is the reality that the desperate regime has for all intents and purposes outsourced the national security of our country to these assassins for hire. These individuals do not possess security clearances to be allowed unfettered access to top state security,” he added.
The use of mercenaries in internal security operations has raised alarms among human rights defenders and international observers. Critics argue that such actions reflect the regime’s growing desperation to maintain control amid rising demands for democratic reforms.
The scrutiny of Correctional Services officers also highlights the monarchy’s broader strategy of targeting perceived dissent within state institutions. Officers working in prisons housing political prisoners have come under increased pressure, accused of sympathizing with those advocating for democracy in Eswatini. This environment of suspicion and intimidation has reportedly created a hostile and demoralizing workplace for many within the Correctional Services.
The treatment of political prisoners, including MPs Mabuza and Dube, who were convicted on politically motivated charges, has become a focal point of Eswatini’s pro-democracy movement. Calls for their release and broader reforms continue to grow, both locally and internationally.
As the monarchy escalates its measures against pro-democracy activists and perceived sympathizers, Eswatini’s political climate remains fraught with tension. The use of mercenaries and the targeting of Correctional Services officers underscore the regime’s reliance on coercive tactics to stifle dissent. However, such actions may further galvanize the pro-democracy movement, as citizens and organizations demand accountability and justice in the face of repression.
