Eswatini Grapples with Petty Theft, Vehicle Smuggling, and Organized Crime

Eswatini is facing growing concerns over petty theft, vehicle smuggling, and organized crime, which has sparked fears about the possible existence of regional networks involved in kidnapping. The country’s government institutions lack independence and transparency, making it challenging to combat these crimes.

Foreign Actors Fuel Criminal Activities

Small diasporas from Asia and West Africa have been linked to criminal activities in Eswatini, including:

Drug trafficking
Cannabis trade
Cross-border fraud targeting individuals and institutions in South Africa
Commodity smuggling
Contraband retail
Violent predatory crimes

Weak Governance Structures Enable Criminality

Eswatini’s absolute monarchy provides a favorable environment for criminal activity, with:

Corruption and nepotism rampant at high levels
Lack of transparency and accountability in government institutions
Continued existence of these problems due to lack of reforms

Judicial System Undermined by Corruption and Inefficiency

The country’s judicial system faces challenges, including:

Appointment and removal of judges by the king, raising concerns about impartiality
Underfunding and inefficiency, resulting in few convictions for serious crimes like human trafficking
Lack of transparency and accountability in judicial processes

Law Enforcement Faces Significant Challenges

Law enforcement in Eswatini faces:

Corruption
Lack of training
Underfunding
Slow response to crime scenes
Excessive force and violence by police officers

Border Security Remains a Concern

Despite efforts to address border security issues, the country’s borders with Mozambique and South Africa remain vulnerable to smuggling contraband due to:

Resource constraints hindering effective checking of pedestrian and vehicular traffic at regulated crossing points

Economic Freedom Limited by Corruption and Mismanagement

Eswatini has made efforts to combat money laundering but lacks:

Strong law enforcement measures
Transparency measures
Widespread corruption, lavish government spending, and mismanaged funds limit economic freedom

The government has failed to adequately support victims of:

Human trafficking
Gender-based violence
Corruption and impunity create an environment where victims are unlikely to report crimes
Lack of judicial independence and protection for witnesses

Conclusion

As Eswatini continues to grapple with these challenges, it remains unclear whether the country will be able to effectively combat petty theft, vehicle smuggling, and organized crime. The government’s inability to address corruption, impunity, and lack of transparency has created an environment conducive to criminal activity, making it essential for reforms to be implemented to ensure a safer and more stable future for its citizens.