‘WORLD'S MEDIA MUST DO MORE’

The Swazi media has, for the most part, been silent about – and at times even tacitly supported – King Mswati III's human rights abuses. And the foreign media hasn’t been much help either. It's about time journalists speak up for freedom of expression, not to mention democracy, writes MANQOBA NXUMALO in the latest edition of Free African Media.

The media gives the world an impression that the problems facing Swaziland have more to do with the king’s lifestyle than with an archaic and rotten political system that stifles any form of dissent and opposition. When King Mswati III jails, tortures and drives his political nemeses into exile, the South African media in particular, and the world media in general, do not find this worth headline news – even though a completely different approach is taken when it involves Zimbabwe.

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RISE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN SWAZILAND

The recent uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt and now Libya have fascinated many within the pro-democracy groups in Swaziland. By the same token, the ruling regime has been rattled. In an undemocratic country like Swaziland, people have good reason to monitor what is happening in the north and to – a large extent – even aspire to have the same courage and motivation as the revolutionaries. Given the mainstream media’s failure to adequately cover these events, Swazi citizens are turning to Facebook to find out the news – and plan their own uprising, Manqoba Nxumalo writes in the latest edition of Free African Media.

Mainstream media in Swaziland has not paid much attention to the uprisings in the north, let alone pointed out the lessons to be learnt, not just by the present regime in the country, but also similar by dictators all over the continent. In fact, it has been conspicuously silent on updating the Swazi nation on what is happening in north Africa.

Nxumalo explores the rise of social media in Swaziland and its influence in galvanising people in Swaziland.

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NEW PRESS FREEDOM NEWSPAPER

While the Swazi constitution provides for freedom of speech and the press, this is completely nullified by a clause in the constitution allowing the king to suspend these rights at any time. The country has only one independent newspaper – the Times of Swaziland – and journalists face reprisals if they criticise the monarchy or government, Manqoba Nxumalo (of the Times of Swaziland) writes in a new online publication, called Free African Media.

Free African Media is designed to be a platform dedicated to freedom of expression throughout the continent, as well as helping to improve the overall quality of reporting, analysis and opinion Africa-wide. It is being trailed this month (February 2011) and if successful, will become a permanent project.

Free African Media is looking for journalists in Swaziland and other African countries to contribute to the publication.

Free African Media website

Manqoba Nxumalo’s article