Thousands of young Emaswati hoping to join the Royal Eswatini Police Service have reason to celebrate after His Majesty King Mswati III announced that the country would soon embark on a police recruitment drive to strengthen the force.
Speaking during the 23rd Police Day celebrations held at the Matsapha Police Academy yesterday, the King said the growth of the country’s population made it necessary for the police service to continuously increase its personnel to effectively safeguard peace and security.
He said while some officers retired and others passed away, it was important to maintain adequate numbers within the service to ensure it continued delivering on its mandate.
His Majesty said increasing the number of officers would also create an opportunity for experienced police officers to mentor younger recruits, ensuring policing knowledge, discipline and professional values were passed from one generation to another.
“We will continue increasing the number of police officers as the country’s population also continues to grow.
“Some officers retire while others pass on, making it important to keep the numbers balanced so that the police service functions effectively. Soon there will be police recruitments so that the force can be strengthened,” said the King.
He assured the service of government’s continued support in strengthening policing standards across the country, saying efforts to improve the police service would continue through various programmes and projects aimed at enhancing its operational capacity.
The King said police officers had demonstrated unwavering commitment to protecting the nation despite the demanding and often dangerous nature of their work, adding that they continued to sacrifice their personal comfort whenever duty called.
He commended officers for embracing continuous learning to keep pace with evolving security challenges, particularly as crime increasingly shifts into the digital space.
His Majesty noted that officers had undergone specialised cybersecurity training in different countries, equipping them with the skills required to tackle emerging forms of crime.
He said the knowledge gained should be shared with other members of the service to strengthen the country’s overall policing capacity.
The King further applauded the police for continuously modernising their operations to respond to changing security needs.
He said the establishment of new specialised units demonstrated that the police service was continually assessing the country’s security environment and adapting its capabilities to ensure the nation remained safe.
The King also praised police officers for maintaining a high level of physical fitness, saying policing demanded discipline and readiness at all times.
He reminded officers that joining the police service meant committing to a lifetime of service, where discipline, preparedness and professionalism remained essential every day.
His Majesty assured members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service that the nation appreciated their dedication and would continue supporting initiatives aimed at building a stronger, more capable police service.
