I often wonder whether journalists in Swaziland ever read the newspapers that they write for.
They don’t seem to have any understanding of what’s going on around them.
There was a perfect example of what I mean in yesterday’s Times of Swaziland (22 October 2007).
In a report headlined ‘Preserving culture key to political stability’ the Times reported the Swaziland Prime Minister Absalom Themba Dlamini saying that ‘the peace and tranquillity the country was enjoying’ was as a result of Swazi culture.
What ‘peace’ and what ‘tranquillity’?
The Times went on to report the Prime Minister saying that Swaziland had been able to solve some of its social problems by invoking cultural practices.
I’m not surprised that the Prime Minister said such nonsense about peace and tranquillity, because he is meant to be the leader of the country and to admit that the kingdom is on its knees (to quote Derek von Wissell) would be to admit to his own and his government’s failure.
But why does the Times let him get away with it?
Take a look at the headlines on other pages of the same edition of the Times and see if this seems like a kingdom in peace and tranquillity.
‘Taxi driver robbed, tied to tree’: Page 2.
‘Bodies pile up at Hlathikhula Hospital’: Page 3.
‘Fight divides family’: Page 4
‘Angry residents want Prince Tikhntele out’: Page 5
‘Zionist stabs church member to death’: Page 5.
‘Solider who whipped sons arrested’: Page 7.
‘Stray lunatics sleep in private wards’: Page 8.
‘Retrenchments hurt savings societies’: Page 10.
‘Three taxi men arrested for poaching at Mkhaya’: Page 12.
‘Two arrested after shooting at Asian’s gate’: Page 13.
‘Asians were assaulted, robbed four suits’: Page 13.
‘Parents warned: Violent homes breeding violent children’: Page 23.
‘Drugs will crush your dreams, St Mark’s pupils warned’: Page 23.
‘Unemployment rate makes Swazis leave for SA’: Page 23.
‘E900 000 dagga destroyed at Herefords’: Page 26.
Maybe the most telling headline of all was this one that was on a comment piece by MP Mfomfo Nkhambule in which he criticised the Prime Minister who had said the way to deal with the HIV AIDS crisis was to pray to God.
‘The Titanic is sinking. Those in authority have run out of ideas’: Page 33.
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