African Police Resource Network

Swaziland

Country Background
Swaziland became independent from the United Kingdom in 1968.  The royalist Imbokodvo National Movement (INM) took power under King Sobhuza II.  The King repealed the 1968 Constitution in 1973 and issued a state of emergency and banned all political parties, establishing a tinkhundla system of rule.  He thereby became systematically more powerful and ruled until his death in 1982, after which power passed to Queen Regent followed by King Msawti III in 1986, who is currently still in power.  A number of compilations of the Constitution under the Constitutional Review Commission have been formulated since the mid-1990s , the tinkhundla system has been much criticised as well as the King’s attempts to increase his powers.  However, a new Constitution was finally enacted in 2005 after many years without one.  

Swaziland Police
The Royal Swaziland Police falls under the office of the Prime Minister.  The Police Commissioner is responsible for the administration and discipline of the police  and in turn is directly accountable to the King, who acts as the Commissioner-in-Chief of the police.

Extract from:
Berg, J. (2005) Police Accountability in Southern African Commonwealth Countries. Cape Town: Institute of Criminology

Please find a list of all documents in our database relevant to Swaziland. Use the checkbox next to each line to expand more detail about the file, including the option to download.

Category	Date	Title	Detail
Publications	2002	Swaziland Police Comissioner's Annual Report
Description: The Annual report gives an overview of the organisation and administration of the Royal Swaziland Police Service and its responsibilities. The Police Service was established in terms of the Police and Public Order Act No. 29 of 1957, has four (4) police regions and the headquarters are located in the capital city of Mbabane. Author: Royql Swaziland Police Service Source: http://www.gov.sz/home.asp?pid=897
Policy	2000	The Royal Swaziland Police Vision for 2000 and beyond
Description: Extract from the document: "As the Royal Swaziland Police moves forward into the new Millennium the Commissioner of Police Mr. E. E. Hillary, K.P.M. has given all police officers and support staff a vision to guide the police service in its work. When serving the people of Swaziland and those who lawfully visit our country the Royal Swaziland Police will be striving to achieve this vision. "To be a police service that has the capacity and professional skills to target its resources at reducing crime and the fear of crime, whilst continuing to maintain peace and tranquility throughout the Kingdom and protect its citizens and lawful visitors and to positively contribute towards the social and economic development of the Swazi people". As part of the ongoing development of the Royal Swaziland Police the Commissioner is pleased to publicise today three of a series of major building blocks that will help the police and the community realise his vision. The three building blocks are; A Service Charter A Crime Strategy A Human Resource Strategy This booklet sets out the frameworks of these building blocks". Author: Royal Swaziland Police Source: http://www.gov.sz/home.asp?pid=2537
Networks	---	Royal Swaziland Police Website
Description: The official website of the Swaziland Police Service The homepage contains information on the: • Human Resource Development Strategy • Information about the Swaziland Police Service • Contact Details • Speeches 2005 • RSP Building a Better Future • News • Departments • Police Executive • Publications • Commissioner´s Annual Report • Police Badges of Ranks • Relevant links The objectives of the Swaziland police are: To give direction to the operations of the Police Service To formulate policies and practices for the Police Service To set operational standards, objectives and targets To control the budget and provide logistics to Police Regions To liaise with other Police Forces on cross border crimes and other related activities To liaise with other Ministries and Departments on administrative issues affecting the Police Source: http://www.gov.sz/home.asp?pid=74
Legislation	2005	Constitution of the Kingdom of Swaziland
Description: The Constitution of the Kingdom of Swaziland, Act No. 001 of 2005, was ratified on July 26, 2005 by King Mswati III. Section on the Police Service in the Constitution 189. (1) The Royal Swaziland Police Service shall be responsible for preserving the peace, for prevention and detection of crime and the apprehension of offenders. (2) The Police Service shall have and exercise such other powers and functions ad may b e prescribed. (3) Subject to any lawful superior orders, the command and overall superintendence of the Police Service shall vest in the Commissioner of Police who shall also be responsible for the administration and discipline of the Police Service. (4) The power to appoint a person to hold or act in the office of Commissioner of Police (including that of Deputy Commissioner of Police) and the power to discipline and remove from office that person shall vest in the King acting on the advice of the minister responsible for the Police Serve and the recommendation of the appropriate service commission or similar body. (5) Subsection (4) does not apply in respect of officers below the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police who, pending the formal establishment of a sector service commission or similar body. Shall continue being the responsibility of the Civil Service Commission, subject to any delegation of that responsibility. Download the consittution from the Government of Swaziland website. Author: Kingdom of Swaziland Source: http://www.gov.sz/
Country Websites	2007	The World Factbook: Swaziland
Description: Uptodate information giving an overview of the country, its geography, demographics, government, economy, communications, transportation and military. A map is included. Author: Central Intelligence Agency Source: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/wz.html