Bheki
Makhubu, the Swaziland editor jailed for two years for publishing articles critical of
judges has won the Press Freedom Award
at the CNN / Multichoice journalism awards.
Makhubu,
editor of the Nation, a small-circulation
monthly comment magazine, was jailed with Thulani Maseko, a writer and human
rights journalist in July 2014.
The
judge’s citation for the award said, ‘Bheki Makhubu is in jail.
Where a journalist should not be. One of far too many journalists on the continent.
‘Bheki and his columnist and human rights lawyer colleague,
Thulani Maseko, remain in jail facing sedition charges.
‘Their crime: They annoyed Swaziland’s chief justice after
penning columns supporting a state clerk who was charged for trying to put
right the system that allowed judicial officers to misuse public cars.
‘Their jailing is part the continuum of Swaziland’s long
tale abuse of civil rights and free expression. This editor of The Nation, Makhubu is a long-standing
practitioner who is known for his fair hand and balanced reporting: even in
circumstances where fairness and balance are tough acts.
‘The Nation has
become a talisman and assembly point, one of the last, in the fight for
democracy in Swaziland.’
Makhubu and Maseko have also
been nominated by more than 50 trade unions and civil society organisations
from across the world for the 2014 Pan-African Human Rights Defenders Award.
The conviction of the two
journalists was condemned by pro-democracy voices across the world. Sue
Valentine, Africa Program Coordinator of the Committee
to Project Journalists (CPJ) in Cape Town, said, ‘[The] ruling is an
indictment of the thin-skinned Swazi judiciary that serves a monarch and denies
citizens the basic right of freedom of expression.’
In a statement she said, ‘We
call on authorities in Swaziland to release Bheki Makhubu and Thulani Maseko
immediately.’
CPJ reported, ‘CPJ research
shows that most of Swaziland’s principal media outlets are controlled by the
state or choose to self-censor. King Mswati III owns one of the two daily
newspapers and employs the editor of the other as an adviser. Media freedom
advocates regard The Nation, which is owned and published by Swaziland
Independent Publishers, as the only independent voice in Swaziland.’
Freedom House, in Washington,
called the conviction a ‘show trial’. Jenai Cox, program manager for Africa
programs at Freedom House, said, ‘The judiciary has become an instrument of
repression, as King Mswati attempts secure his grip on power.’
Cox added, ‘After a three-month
show trial, Swaziland’s High Court conviction of two of the country’s most
prominent human rights activists shows that Swaziland’s court system has lost
its last shred of credibility.’
In a statement the organisation
said, ‘Freedom House joins opposition groups, civil society organizations and
international organizations in demanding authorities swiftly and unconditionally
release Maseko, Makhubu and all of Swaziland’s political prisoners and
prisoners of conscience.’
See also
WHAT
CONVICTED JOURNALISTS WROTE
COURT
CONVICTS EDITOR AND WRITER
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