FUND SET UP IN BID TO PAY EDITOR’S FINE

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

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2013/04/not-first-attack-on-nation-editor_20.html

EDITOR’S SENTENCE ‘UNCONSTITUTIONAL’

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2013/04/editors-sentence-violates-constitution.html

EDITOR FACING JAIL TO APPEAL SENTENCE

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2013/04/editor-facing-jail-to-appeal-sentence.html

VOICES SUPPORTING BELEAGUERED EDITOR

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2013/04/voices-supporting-beleaguered-editor.html

A TALE OF TWO SWAZI EDITORS

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2013/04/a-tale-of-two-swazi-editors.html

PUDEMO CONDEMNS EDITOR’S CONVICTION

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2013/04/pudemo-condemns-editors-conviction.html

ARTICLES THAT MIGHT GET EDITOR JAILED

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2013/04/articles-that-might-get-editor-jailed.html

SOUTH AFRICA EDITORS BACK MAKHUBU

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2013/04/south-africa-editors-back-makhubu.html

HIGH COURT SUPPRESSES MEDIA FREEDOM

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2013/04/high-court-suppresses-media-freedom.html

MISA: EDITOR’S CONVICTION ‘BRUTAL’

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2013/04/misa-editors-conviction-brutal.html

EDITOR’S CONTEMPT SENTENCE ‘SHOCKING’

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2013/04/editors-contempt-sentence-shocking.html

EDITOR SET FOR TWO YEARS IN JAIL

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2013/04/editor-set-for-two-years-in-jail.html

FACEBOOK TELLS TRUTH MEDIA WON’T

Swaziland journalists can no longer hide stories of public importance to please friends and advertisers, a top media union official said.

This is because social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and blogs are exposing what is really going on in the kingdom.

Mfanukhona Nkambule, President of the Swaziland National Association of Journalists (SNAJ), told a meeting in Mbabane to mark World Press Freedom Day (3 May 2011), ‘We shall see whatever you hide in Facebook or Twitter. They will also tell the outside world that they decided to post the story on Facebook because the mainstream media has failed to do it.’

This meant the Internet posed a challenge to the media in Swaziland, but it was not a competitor.

The Swazi Observer reported Nkambule saying that journalists cannot compete with social networking, ‘because the people behind social media are the very sources who give us those juicy stories we print and broadcast in our outlets.’

He said the social media was where breaking stories were being posted these days.

See also

SWAZILAND JOURNALISTS A DISGRACE

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2011/05/swaziland-journalists-disgrace.html

PUT UP OR SHUT UP, SENATOR TOLD

A loud mouthed Swaziland senator has been told to put up or shut up over her allegations that Swazi journalists have leaked ‘sensitive’ information to South African newspapers.

The Swaziland National Association of Journalists (SNAJ) says Senator Ndileka Dlamini has tainted local reporters with her allegations.

The row started when Dlamini called on the Swazi Government to ‘deal’ with any local reporter found to be leaking ‘sensitive news’.

She called for a sense of ‘patriotism’ from journalists.

‘They must learn to respect the country and know that what they are doing is wrong,’ she told senators.

Senators were angry that although news in Swaziland is censored, overseas’ publications and the Internet can carry the truth about the kingdom. This was especially the case recently when news of the Swazi Royal Family sex scandal was reported across the globe, but not in Swaziland.

Now, SNAJ has told Dlamini to name and shame the journalists involved in such practice instead of tainting all journalists in the country. ‘If the senator has information substantiating her accusations she should rightly expose the individual than to taint local journalists as being the ones behind such acts.

‘For all we know, the source of such could have been from within the House itself considering the available resources,’ SNAJ said in a statement.

SNAJ said the Senator should substantiate her claims by providing evidence of those journalists leaking sensitive stories to the South African media. Failing which the Senator should withdraw her statements unconditionally.

SWAZI POLICE TORTURE JOURNALISTS

Swaziland police have been accused of torturing and detaining two television reporters.

The journalists, who work for Swaziland’s only independent television station Channel S, say they were arrested by police while they were following a story about a crime syndicate.

It is reported that police thought the journalists were part of the criminal gang. They were released without charge.

Now, the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) has asked police and other security agencies not to disturb journalists in their duties.

According to a report in the Swazi Observer yesterday (18 December 2008), Director of the MISA Swaziland Chapter Comfort Mabuza said if there were suspicions in the way journalists conduct themselves, the relevant entities should be contacted.

Mabuza also urged journalists to investigate stories and not rely on sources for information.

‘Do not run for a story without satisfying yourself that it is not foul play. Investigate a story and confirm it.’

Secretary General of the Swaziland National Association of Journalists (SNAJ) Timothy Simelane said the alleged detention and harassment of the two was unfortunate.

‘From what we have gathered so far, the journalists were on duty and had been promised a story yet this was not to be the case. However, no matter the circumstance, the police had no prerogative to harass them, nor detain them for so many hours.

‘Members of the public are also warned not to take journalists for a ride by promising them news, yet the motive is to abuse them to settle personal scores with opponents. Similarly, journalists are warned not to fall for scheming bogus sources, but to screen them first to avoid being taken for a ride.’

Simelane said the association would investigate the matter further.

SWAZI JOURNALISTS STAND FIRM

Swazi journalists are refusing to be intimidated by warnings that they will be jailed if they contravene the Swaziland’s Suppression of Terrorism Act, 2008.

The Swaziland Attorney General warned journalist that they would be in trouble with the law if they published things that were critical of the Swazi Government and supported ‘terrorist’ organisations.

The Times of Swaziland reports today (19 November 2008) that journalists argue ‘that it would not only be irresponsible but also unconstitutional for government to send scribes to jail for reporting accurately and factually about actual events’.

The Times reports, ‘Both the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Swaziland Chapter and the Swaziland National Association of Journalists (SNAJ) have reacted with disapproval to the warning about being careful how they go about their duties in light of the authorities’ decision to use this law against those perceived to be terrorists’.

The law stipulates jail sentences of up to 25 years for people involved in terrorism acts or those who appear to be sympathising with perceived terrorists.

The Times said the warning to journalists was sounded by Attorney General Majahenkhaba Dlamini, who said journalists would not be spared if it became apparent that they were reporting in a manner that seemed to support terrorists.

Timothy Simelane, SNAJ Secretary General, says journalists are not intimidated by threats that they could be in trouble for reporting on entities branded terrorists.

‘Journalists have an obligation to inform the public,’ he said.

‘As long as whatever matter at hand is news worthy and factual, we are going to report it.’

Simelane said as an organisation with the interests of journalists in mind, they did not want to believe that the Suppression of Terrorism Act was there to silence journalists.

He said they drew strength from the Swaziland Constitution Section 25 which gives the right to the freedom of assembly and association. The constitution also protects the right to freedom of expression, which includes the right to freedom of the press and media.

Comfort Mabuza, MISA Swaziland Director, said penalising the media for reporting facts would be an irresponsible development on the part of government.