Swazi law-breakers get physical

Border patrol orders push-ups instead of fines JAMES HALL
MBABANE – Trying to get around Swazi customs? You’d better be in good physical shape, because that will be 30 push-ups! Truckers and motorists who are caught by border patrol soldiers attempting to smuggle goods into Eastern Swaziland or whose vehicles are found by soldiers to have mechanical faults, receive instant punishment. They are made to do push-ups. One zealous soldier chased a suspected smuggler across the border into Mozambique. He was intercepted by a Mozambican army patrol, who stripped him of his combat gear. “The Mozambicans took my rifle!” the soldier reportedly whined when he returned to Swaziland. By law, army personnel are not permitted to do the work of customs officials or police officers. Unhappy Department of Customs and Excise and police officials met with their army counterparts at the Lomahasha border post last week to ensure that soldiers stick to their jobs of patrolling border fences, and turn over suspects to police. However, some soldiers are reportedly continuing to instil army barracks discipline on drivers of unsafe motor vehicles and captured smugglers, by having them hit the pavement to do push-ups.