SWAZI ELITE THREATENS JOURNALISTS

Journalists working for the Swazi Observer, the newspaper in effect owned by King Mswati III, are being harassed by traditional authorities after reporting that the son of one of the king’s advisors had been arrested on assault and damage charges.

The story involves Bishop Nash Shongwe who is a member of King Mswati’s advisory committee liqoqo, also known as the Swazi National Council (SNC).

The Observer reported that the bishop’s son Sikhumbuzo had been arrested following an incident at a club in which he allegedly attacked patrons’ cars with a bush-knife and assaulted some of them. He is charged with two counts of malicious damage to property and assault.

Sikhumbuzo is also awaiting trial for allegedly assaulting Observer news editor Ackel Zwane, in December 2008.

In January 2009 the Swazi News reported that Sikhumbuzo had been arrested for assaulting his wife with a bottle causing a wound that needed seven stitches.

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Swaziland Chapter reports that following the publication of the most recent story, ‘One journalist who declined to be identified for fear of victimization’ told MISA that they have received ‘disturbing’ calls from traditional authorities ‘who have warned them against the continued publication of stories about the bishop’s son’.

MISA says it is thought the bishop might have complained to the traditional authorities against the newspaper, which is owned by the King, to influence the censoring of the newspaper.

‘Soon after the stories, we received calls, mostly from members of the SNC, warning us against further publishing of the stories about the bishop’s son,’ MISA reports the journalist saying.

‘We are not happy. The traditional authorities have no right to censor us on stories which are of public interest. Moreover, this man has proved to be a public nuisance and does not deserve to be protected,’ he added.