Africa-Press – Eswatini. Brigadier General Sotja Dlamini has issued a strong warning to army hopefuls as the national recruitment race enters its final constituencies, cautioning that anyone caught cheating will be immediately handed over to the police.
With the highly anticipated 3.2-kilometre races drawing closer in several large constituencies, the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) says it is tightening oversight to protect the integrity of the process.
Speaking ahead of the remaining race dates, Brigadier General Dlamini stressed that the army would not compromise on discipline or fairness.
He said any individual attempting to manipulate results, cheat the system or run in constituencies where they are not eligible would face firm action.
“Cheaters would be handed to the cops,” he warned. “This process must remain fair to all genuine candidates. Anyone who tries to cut corners is not fit for the Defence Force.”
He placed particular emphasis on the role of community leadership, especially Bucopho, in ensuring that only legitimate residents of each constituency participate.
Dlamini underscored that vetting at community level is the first line of defence against fraud, and urged local authorities to tighten verification before clearing hopefuls to run.
Brigadier Sotja Dlamini
“Bucopho should ensure that the people participating in the race are of that constituency,” he said. “We rely on the vetting done at community level, and once someone has been approved to run, we expect the information to be accurate.”
The warning comes after isolated incidents in past recruitment seasons where some individuals attempted to run in more than one constituency or entered on behalf of others.
The Defence Force says such attempts undermine the credibility of the entire recruitment exercise and disadvantage honest candidates.
Officials have further encouraged participants to compete fairly, arrive early and prepare responsibly, noting that medical teams and supervisors will be present at all venues to ensure safety and order.
With urban constituencies still ahead, authorities anticipate large turnouts and heightened competition, making strict monitoring even more crucial.
This year’s recruitment race has so far attracted thousands of candidates across the country, with community support remaining strong.
As the final constituencies prepare to host their races, the UEDF says it intends to maintain a high standard of discipline from the very beginning of the selection process.
Brigadier General Dlamini’s message remains clear: fairness, honesty and discipline are non-negotiable values. Those who hope to join the army must show these qualities not only during training, but from the moment they line up at the starting point.
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