A deep black cloud of mystery hangs over a report that Freedom House of the United States is to give ‘unlimited’ funding to progressive groups in Swaziland to help the fight for democracy.
As I wrote yesterday (6 May 2009), the Times of Swaziland Sunday edition reported Musa Hlophe, the coordinator of the Swaziland Coalition of Concerned Organisations (SCCCO), saying the money would be channelled through his NGO and would be made available to groups such as the Swaziland United Democratic Front (SUDF).
It was a great story and, I said, it showed the Americans were truly committed to advancing democracy in Swaziland. There’s only one problem: it’s not happening. Or as SCCCO said in a media release: Quite simply untrue. Exaggerations of the grossest nature. There are no unlimited funds.
SCCCO says, ‘The facts are these: The Coalition has been working with Freedom House on capacity building of its staff and some of its members and partners. This has entailed a series of interviews and workshops in various parts of the country. The support was practical rather than financial and at no stage has funding been transferred from Freedom House to the Coalition. While we hope to continue the Partnership at present, funding has not been found to do so. We would like to place on record our gratitude for the support from Freedom House.’
It is disappointing that more isn’t being done to help, but how is it that the activities between SCCCO and Freedom House were reported in the way they were? The Times Sunday had an interview with Musa Hlophe and according to the newspaper he told them funds were on the way.
How was there such a complete breakdown in communication between SCCCO and the newspaper?
The conspiracy theorists are out in force. According to Hlophe, ‘A rumour has been started by those who object to civil society playing a positive role in the development of the country.’ He went on to say that suggestions made in the Times Sunday report that some of the funds would go to banned organisations such as the People’s United Democratic Front (PUDEMO) were ‘mischief making of the highest order’.
Other theories doing the rounds on the Internet are that the Times was pressured into printing a false story after it got in trouble with King Mswati III over his purchase of armoured cars; that the ruling regime thought it would encourage infighting over cash at the SUDF; and there are even doubts about SCCCO’s account of the incident.
I don’t think they’ve got it right. As an academic who has studied the media in Swaziland face on I know that many individuals and organisations are not very good at expressing what they mean (read Hlophe’s regular column in the Times Sunday to see what I mean). Add to this the fact that reporters often misunderstand what is being said to them. Then, because in Swaziland, there is no culture of questioning, reporters tend not to seek clarification. The result: confusion.
Not so much conspiracy then just a good old cock-up. Probably.
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