Media organisations in Swaziland are appealing for
donations to raise E200,000 (US$22,000) to pay the fine for Bheki Makhubu,
Editor of the Nation magazine.
If he does not pay by Tuesday (23 April 2013), he will be
sent to jail for two years.
The sentence was imposed on Makhubu by the Swazi High
Court after it convicted him of ‘scandalising’ the court by writing two
articles criticising the judiciary.
The Swaziland National Association of Journalists (SNAJ)
is leading the appeal which has been sent to the donor community, journalists,
media practitioners, civil society, media stakeholders and members of the
general public.
Makhubu has said he will appeal the sentence, but the
grounds for such appeal have not been made public, and they are not immediately
obvious to media watchers of the kingdom. Observers expect Mukhuba to be
imprisoned on Tuesday.
Mfanukhona Nkambule, SNAJ President said it was
imperative to be ready for any eventuality.
He said, ‘We have to be on full alert and eliminate any
possibility for Makhubu to go to jail. This we can do by raising the money to
pay the fine. SNAJ is a credible association that believes in the principle of
financial transparency; interested donors will have access to audited financial
statements. Donors can notify Makhubu and the Nation Magazine of any
contributions made towards the Fund so that there is transparency in the
fund-raising drive.’
Nkambule said interested donors could contact him at +268
7621 6503 for more information.
In an interview with the Times Sunday newspaper in Swaziland, Makhubu said he and the Nation magazine could not afford to pay
the fine.
The newspaper quoted him saying, ‘We really appreciate
what SNAJ is doing and we must thank them for the support they are showing.’
He added, ‘I am also receiving calls from other people
who are willing to also support as it is impossible for such a small magazine
to have so much money.’
The SNAJ appeal so far has the support of a growing
number of organisations including, the Media Institute of Southern Africa,
Swaziland chapter; the National Association of Public Service and Allied
Workers Union (NAPSAWU) and the Swaziland national Association of Teachers
(SNAT).
See also
NOT FIRST ATTACK ON ‘NATION’ EDITOR
EDITOR’S SENTENCE ‘UNCONSTITUTIONAL’
EDITOR FACING JAIL TO APPEAL SENTENCE
VOICES SUPPORTING BELEAGUERED EDITOR
A TALE OF TWO SWAZI EDITORS
PUDEMO CONDEMNS EDITOR’S CONVICTION
ARTICLES THAT MIGHT GET EDITOR JAILED
SOUTH AFRICA EDITORS BACK MAKHUBU
HIGH COURT SUPPRESSES MEDIA FREEDOM
MISA: EDITOR’S CONVICTION ‘BRUTAL’
EDITOR’S CONTEMPT SENTENCE ‘SHOCKING’
EDITOR SET FOR TWO YEARS IN JAIL
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