Swazi
editors call for explanation from state-owned newspaper
Media
Institute of Southern Africa - statement
14
January 2013
The
managing director of the state-owned Swazi
Observer Newspaper Group has accused his colleagues in the media of undermining
the country’s authorities.
In
a vague and contradictory opinion piece, Alpheous Nxumalo said “the media has
been used as lilipads to attack the government and other subordinate
institutions with impunities. This has all been done in the name of freedom of
the press”.
Later
in the article, however, Nxumalo concedes that “that every human being has a
right to think and rationalise for himself or herself”.
The
media boss is clearly upset with progressive voices in Swaziland, which has
been ruled by absolute monarch King Mswati III since 1986.
“It
is absolutely true that most of the so-called democracy activists find it
‘democratic’ to insult the heads of state and government in the media as a
strategy of democratising Swaziland. It is preposterous and fallacious.”
Nxumalo,
head of the group that publishes the Swazi
Observer and Weekend Observer,
added that “freedom of the media should not be an instrument for unleashing
insults and disrespect”.
His
sentiments are not unsurprising considering he works for a newspaper that is effectively
owned by the king.
Nxumalo
accuses the media of stirring discontent by airing the views of democratic
activists, however he fails to mentions any names or organisations, rendering
his article somewhat hollow.
Media
editors have taken issue with Nxumalo, calling for him to clarify his opinion
and to provide evidence to support his statements.
Martin
Dlamini, managing editor of the Times
of Swaziland, said “it's very unfortunate that these allegations are made
by a senior executive. They are unfounded as he failed to substantiate them. We
demand him to substantiate them and provide us with evidence so that we
can deal with them. Failing we want him to issue an apology or we reserve the
right to take further action because his allegations affect our credibility
and business".
Editor
of The Nation magazine Bheki Makhubu said
"in the media there what is called name and shame them. If the Swazi Observer MD knows that there are
sponsored media houses why he doesn't name and shame them. He has to substantiate
and clarify his allegations. I've no problem with
him
spelling out the editorial policy of his paper. But I've a problem when he
portrays himself as more patriotic than others”.
The
media in Swaziland is heavily censored. Criticism of King Mswati III,
sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, is rarely heard in public.
From
a freedom of expression standpoint Nxumalo makes several valid points. However
once he had made a point he draws some dangerous conclusions, which would
appear to be based more on ignorance than evidence.
The
Swaziland chapter of Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA-Swaziland), a
media monitoring watchdog that promotes freedom of speech, believes the answer
to bad speech is more and better speech. Whereas, it would seem Nxumalo would
see the answer in the muzzling of speech.
MISA-Swaziland
in response to the article has written a letter to the chairman of the
Swaziland Group of Newspapers, asking for clarification. If a clarification is
not forthcoming MISA reserves the right to seek legal recourse.
See
also
NO
PRESS FREEDOM AT ‘OBSERVER’
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