The
Swaziland Action Group Against Abuse (SWAGAA) has joined the growing chorus of
condemnation of the Times Sunday newspaper
after it published a nude picture of a woman blackmail victim.
The
woman’s former boyfriend had published naked pictures of her on social network
sites and had sent them to her work colleagues and others who knew her. This
was after their relationship broke down and the couple argued over money.
The
Times Sunday interviewed the
Zimbabwean man at length and published his story and included one of the
pictures he was circulating. It blurred out the woman’s face, breasts and
private parts, but published a second picture of her in which she could be
clearly identified (despite a small black strip printed across her eyes) and
gave enough details of her workplace to make identification easy.
Now,
SWAGAA has said in a letter published by the newspaper, ‘The Times
Sunday stooped to a new low by publishing the blackmail picture of the
Swazi UK Embassy employee last Sunday.
‘The
methods the “Spiteful Zimbabwean” used to retaliate against a girlfriend over
financial disagreements were certainly distasteful but what was even more
distasteful was the fact the newspaper played right into his hands.
‘By
publishing a private photo, the newspaper helped to spread his evil intent – to
damage this woman’s reputation - and her life. SWAGAA is extremely disappointed
in the newspaper’s decision to publish this photo.
‘The
Times Sunday is guilty of
thoughtlessly inflicting pain for a brief moment of titillation and has breached
the ethics of responsible journalism. Citizens of Swaziland deserve better than
this.’
SWAGAA
joins the Swazi Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT),
the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), Swaziland chapter, and numerous readers
of the newspaper in attacking the newspaper for its sensationalist journalism.
The
ICT Ministry in a statement said it was ‘horrified’ by the publication of an
‘indecent’ photograph.
It
went on, ‘Chapter Three of the Constitution protects Swazi Citizens from
“inhuman or degrading treatment,” and further confers “respect for rights of
family, women and children”.
‘The
Preamble of the Code of Ethics as adopted by Swaziland National Association of
Journalists, clearly states that its members must “adhere to highest ethical
standards, professional competence and good behaviour, in carrying out their
duties.”
‘It
further states that while “the public expects the media to play their watchdog
role, they shall do this with a high sense of responsibility, without
infringing on the rights of individuals and society in general”.’
MISAsupported the Ministry stance. It said in a statement, ‘MISA-Swaziland is the
first to decry the endemic censorship in the kingdom, however on this issue, we
acknowledge the position of government.
‘The
ICT ministry may not have the finest record on matters of freedom
of speech, but MISA-Swaziland must give credit where it is due. The government
is invoking the media code of ethics and the Constitution as it was meant to be
invoked: to protect people from degrading and inhuman treatment.’
The Swazi Observer newspaperalso reported University of Swaziland journalism lecturer
Maxwell Mthembu and Swaziland Consumers Association Chairman Bongani Mdluli had
called for the Sunday
Times to issue an apology.
The
Times Sunday told its readers in a
statement published in the newspaper yesterday (3 February 2013), ‘Publication
of the story and blocked picture in question was a result of a decision to show
what some people will do in the name of love.
‘The
story was meant to be a warning to both men and women to be careful, even if
they are in love.’
It
made no reference to criticisms that it had broken the code of ethical conduct
and the Swazi Constitution.
See
also
‘TIMES
SUNDAY’ ENCOURAGES BLACKMAIL
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