Media Institute of Southern Africa - Swaziland Chapter
Media Alert, 22 March 2013
Reinstatement of
Swazi Observer Editors
The Media Institute of Southern Africa - Swaziland
Chapter welcomes the decision by the Swazi
Observer Board of Directors to reinstate editors, Alec Lushaba and Thulani Thwala
after the eight months of unjustified suspension. In a statement issued by the Swazi Observer Board Chairman Sthofeni
Ginindza earlier this week, ‘there was no sufficient reason for the suspension
of the Swazi Observer daily and Weekend Observer editors.’
We as MISA Swaziland commend the Swazi Observer board for dealing with
this matter in the prudent manner they did. We further share the same belief
with the board regarding the important role that professionals play in
organizations; particularly members of the media profession. Media freedom is a
right not only to be enjoyed by journalists but also by members of the public
who depend on media reports to make informed decisions on their daily life,
hence bad conditions for journalists will have negative impacts on the public.
Freedom of the press is a right guaranteed by the
Constitution of the kingdom of Swaziland and other regional and international
instruments to which Swaziland is a state party. The job security of
journalists should be respected just like all other professionals who are
treated with dignity and high esteem. Therefore the unjustifiable suspension
and dismissal of journalists in media houses should be condemned to the highest
order. We hope other media houses will take a leaf from the Observer Board and
ensure the job security of journalists. MISA Swaziland strives to see an
environment that is open for journalists to practise their profession.
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