Senate
president insults journalists, threatens censorship
Media Institute for Southern Africa
Swaziland
Statement
Sunday,
20 January 2013
Swaziland Senate president Gelane Zwane has
insulted and threatened journalists for turning up to a meeting to which they
were invited, according to reports in the Times of Swaziland, the country’s oldest
privately-owned newspaper.
Zwane, who was in attendance at the
meeting, held Thursday, 17 January 2013, to prepare for the opening of
parliament, allegedly uttered rude words in the direction of journalists. The
alleged insult was uttered in the local language, SiSwati.
“F****** ngalabantufu betindzaba,” she said,
much to the shock of all, including the Speaker of Parliament, Prince Guduza,
who was seated next to her, reported the newspaper.
Loosely translated, the insult reads as:
“F*** off news people”.
The Times
of Swaziland article also reported:
“Zwane further went on to say if anything
that had been discussed yesterday [Thursday] was published in the media then
she would ensure that those journalists were banned from covering the 2013
State Opening of Parliament slated for next month.”
Zwane’s outburst apparently came after the
clerk of parliament, Ndvuna Dlamini, who had convened the meeting, said he
wanted to say something but couldn’t because the media were present.
“It was at this point that Zwane
interjected and said she was glad Dlamini has mentioned this. ‘Last year the
media came here and published all that was discussed at this meeting, said
Zwane’.”
The Times
of Swaziland article, written by Sibongile Sukati, went on to say that
“the media was invited by the office of the Clerk of Parliament and no
instructions were given that the event should not be covered”.
The Swaziland chapter of the Media
Institute of Southern Africa (MISA-Swaziland) has repeatedly spoken out against this kind of treatment of
the country’s journalists.
MISA-Swaziland National Director, Vuyisile
Hlatshwayo, has appealed to Zwane to use the Editors Forum, Swaziland National
Association of Journalists (SNAJ), or MISA to address whatever grievances she
may have against the media.
“No matter what might have happened you
don’t address other professionals like that. Journalists are responsible for
information dissemination in the country. Swazis in positions of power need to
learn that no one is more Swazi or patriotic than other Swazis,” said Hlatshwayo.
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