King Mswati III continues to keep a tight grip on news
media and opposition voices in Swaziland, a report on journalism freedom in the
kingdom just published reveals.
The King, who rules Swaziland as sub-Saharan Africa’s
last absolute monarch, ‘owned one of the two daily newspapers and employed the
editor of the other as an adviser. Radio and television were also controlled by
the state,’ the
report from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) stated.
‘Though Swazis readily accessed South African radio and television, South African newspapers entering Swaziland were carefully screened by authorities: If deemed critical of the king or government, all copies were purchased and destroyed,’ CPJ said.
‘Though Swazis readily accessed South African radio and television, South African newspapers entering Swaziland were carefully screened by authorities: If deemed critical of the king or government, all copies were purchased and destroyed,’ CPJ said.
‘Self-censorship prevailed in the kingdom, where
political parties are banned and critical voices within civil society and the
media were silenced through legal or professional repercussions.
‘Few dared challenge the government; the boards of
state-owned companies such as the Swazi
Observer Newspaper group kept their editors in check and, in turn, editors
ensured that their reporters toed the line.’
The CPJ reported two editors, Alec Lushaba and Thulani
Thwala, were reinstated in
March 2013 after being suspended by their employer, the Swazi Observer ,
the newspaper owned by the King.
‘The editors were accused of “negative coverage” and
failure to follow the company’s mandate, which includes “upholding the social
and cultural values of the Swazi nation.” The king is seen as the embodiment of
these values, CPJ reported.
Lushaba and Thwala had published critical stories about
the king, including a June 2011 article about Swaziland's alleged attempts to
secure a loan from South Africa, which was believed to cause embarrassment to
the king, according to the managing director of Tibiyo Taka Ngwane, the royal
entity that owns the Swazi Observer
Newspaper group.
See also
TOP JUDGE ATTACKS PRESS FREEDOM
http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2014/01/top-judge-attacks-press-freedom.html
OSISA: JUDGES ATTACK PRESS FREEDOM
OSISA: JUDGES ATTACK PRESS FREEDOM
http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2013/05/osisa-judges-attack-press-freedom.html
CHIEF JUSTICE THREATENS MEDIA
CHIEF JUSTICE THREATENS MEDIA
‘ONLY 1 IN 4 FREE TO SPEAK OPENLY’
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