SWAZI KING ‘THREAT TO MEDIA FREEDOM’

King Mswati III is the main threat to media freedom in Swaziland, according to a research report soon to be published.

As a result of constant intimidation by the King and his circle of traditional advisors, the media in Swaziland are too scared to criticize the King or anything connected or close to him.

The research was conducted for the Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA) Swaziland chapter.

In a media release published on Tuesday (17 June 2008), MISA says the report, conducted on behalf of MISA Swaziland by Professor Richard Rooney of the University of Swaziland, ‘found that the monarchy was by far the main threat to press freedom in Swaziland.’

The research report comes as traditional authorities in Swaziland continue to harass and intimidate the media, particularly in instances when the Swazi monarchy faces criticism.

The MISA media statement says,

‘On 14 June 2008, the traditional governor, Jim Gama, who is regarded as the traditional prime minister, launched a scathing attack on the print media and threatened journalists for what he claimed was “negative reporting” on a national gathering called by King Mswati III at Ludzidzini royal kraal, the traditional capital.

‘Without specifying any media outlet or journalist, Gama accused the print media of having reported negatively about the national gathering, where people had been called to debate national issues under a forum called Peoples' Parliament.

‘Speaking in the presence of King Mswati III, Gama, in his threats, said the offending journalists should be punished using “umphini”, which in Swazi traditional folklore is tantamount to capital punishment.

‘Gama, addressing the King, said: “Your Majesty, you gave them the freedom to write and with that freedom they are now disrespecting you. You want the same people who are in this kraal to buy that paper that has created a wrong picture about that is happening here.”

‘He said the newspaper instead should have reported that the royal kraal was filled to the brim (in response to the King’s summons) and that Swazis loved their king.

‘The threats coincided with an impassioned apology which the privately-owned Times of Swaziland newspaper published on 15 June, following a story that appeared on 13 June, which claimed that government was to use a E15 million (more than 2 million US Dollars) allocation to pay for the national gathering. The budget allocation is reserved for national celebrations.’

The media release concluded, ‘MISA Swaziland frowns on intimidation of any kind directed against the media, and will use the findings of the recent study on censorship to target the King’s court to educate traditionalists about the role of media in society.’

See also
‘DISRESPECT SWAZI KING AND DIE’