Swati Newsweek, July, 19, 2020
By Eugene Dube
LOBAMBA- Hosea Member of Parliament, Bacede Mabuza, will tomorrow (20 July 2020) move a motion, seconded by MP Mabulala Maseko; challenging the Eswatini royal elite secretely implementing notorious Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA) of 2018.
Information gathered is that certain legislators think that the involvement of polticians like Eswatini Prime minister in implementing POCA amounts to a conflict of interest.
A document about the issue reads thus” The clear case of conflict of interest that arises as result of policians being members of the Assets Recovery Committee such as Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs. “
This act has caused an uproar among individuals who are suspected to be fending for their families through the illegal dagga trade.
Property and cash to the tune of millions of Emalangeni has been seized and frozen respectively in the last couple of weeks, from ‘suspected’ dagga dealers; with no evidence to confirm such allegations. The MP’s are calling for an urgent amendment of this act.
According to a leaked Eswatini Parliament document the first demand is that the Eswatini Government Hon. Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Princess (Pholile Shakantu) prepares an urgent Bill, which seeks to amend certain sections of the Prevention of Organized Crime Act, no. 11 of 2018. The demands are listed under MOTION WITHOUT NOTICE section in the ESWATINI HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY ORDER PAPER for Monday 20th July, 2020.
Eswatini Parliament in Lobamba where MPs are expected to discuss the dagga issue.
The vocal MPs want some sections addressed in the House of Assembly. Some of these include; “the unwarranted seizure of property based on suspicions without ascertaining clearly the source of income of the individual,” as spelled out in tomorrow’s Order Paper.
“The selective application of the law targeting certain group of fellow citizens without any thorough investigation and not giving suspects the right to be heard,” is another issue to be addressed during the day.
Countless individuals have been vocal in challenging this act as it seems to be politically motivated rather based on the exercise of the rule of justice.
Information reveals that some dagga farmers have approached their MPs to amend POCA.
Another Swazi citizen said”Why pounce on individuals fending for their families without any concrete evidence of wrongdoing, yet the real criminals languish in public offices dressed in fancy suits and diamond watches?”
The Swati Newsweek 