MISA BLASTS SWAZI BBC CENSORSHIP

The Swaziland Government has banned state media from covering demonstrations and strikes currently taking place in the kingdom.

The Swazi Government also censored the BBC Focus on Africa programme that is broadcast daily on SBIS in the mornings, mid-day and evenings, after it contained items critical of King Mswati III, sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, and the government he hand-picks.

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) – the prominent media freedom organisation in the region – reports that the state radio SBIS has not been reporting on the strikes, which include a massive protest from nurses this week who were not paid their allowances by government.

MISA reports Members of Parliament confronted Nelisiwe Shongwe, the Minister for Information Communications and Technology (ICT), for answers. The Minister conceded in Parliament that the programme has been temporarily suspended. She said the government has taken a decision to censor the programme and said it would be back on air soon.

MPs did not take kindly to the government’s move and warned that it was dangerous as it was infringing on people’s right to access information. One of the MPs, Robert Magongo, said what the government has done has the potential to spark a riot among the people.

MISA reports that Magongo was quoted in the media to have said, ‘If I were a Minister I would never take orders from anyone because that would negatively portray me in the eyes of the people I am serving. I would rather resign than have someone dictate to me.’

‘The government has not only banned the BBC programme but has also banned all state media from covering demonstrations and strikes currently taking place in the country. Parliament has also cautioned the government against this move.

‘MISA, therefore, strongly urges the government to restore the BBC programme to be aired uncensored and to stop interfering in media content.

‘MISA further commends the MPs for questioning the government about this and cautioning against it. MISA cannot agree more with the MPs that the government's move is not only dangerous but also infringes upon people’s right to know. The government cannot prescribe what people should listen and not listen to. People have the right to choose what is good for them without being dictated to by the state.’

MINISTER DENIES BBC CENSORSHIP

Nelisiwe Shongwe, Swaziland’s Minister of Information, Communication and Technology, has denied that the Swazi Government is censoring BBC radio broadcasts in the kingdom.

As reported yesterday (9 March 2011), Shongwe had told parliament that the Focus on Africa Programme that is broadcast in its entirety on state-run radio, SBIS would in future be ‘edited’ before broadcast.

She was reported saying that as a Swazi nation, people should understand that there were some pieces of information that could not just be sent to the people. She said they had to consider the impact that information would have.

The programme had been kept off the air for several days following two reports by Louise Redvers that allowed Swazi people to voice their opposition to King Mswati III, sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch.

News of the censorship went around the world, prompting Shongwe to issue a statement to the BBC, saying that there was no ‘censorship’. Instead, she said, the Swazi Government wanted to edit out ‘profane’ material and ‘insults’.

The BBC Focus on Africa reported on the controversy yesterday in its 19.00 hrs GMT edition, which isn’t broadcast in Swaziland (even under normal circumstances), To hear the report, click below.

See also

SWAZILAND CENSORS BBC RADIO

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2011/03/swaziland-censors-bbc-radio.html

NOW, NURSES ARE ALSO CENSORED

The Swaziland Solidarity Network has criticised Nelisiwe Shongwe, the Minister of Information Communication and Technology, for censoring both the BBC World Service radio and keeping the voices of protesting Swazi nurses off the state-run SBIS radio.

The following is a statement from SSN released today (9 March 2011).

SOURCE

ICT MINISTER COMES UNDER FROM MPS FIRE FOR HER CENSORSHIP CAMPAIGN

Previously uncensored news has recently been closely monitored and effectively blocked from the public by Swaziland’s state owned media.

On the same day that she publicly declared that BBC news broadcasts were being censored, the ever controversial minister of Information Communication and Technology (ICT), Nelisiwe Shongwe, was quizzed by parliamentarians on why a nurses ‘march through the capital city was not covered by the state radio, SBIS (Swaziland Information and Broadcasting Service).

The nurses were demanding overtime payments for January and marched to the ministry of health to deliver a petition demanding its immediate payment. Another point raised by the members of parliament was the interference in the recruitment process of the country’s only television broadcaster, Swazi TV.

These pertinent questions were posed by parliamentarians during the debate for the ministry’s budget allocation.

The parliamentarians’ recent attitude of the question of media censorship is unprecedented and could be a sign of the times. It is unfortunate that sometimes parliamentarians raise these questions out of personal differences with the ministers involved rather than a genuine concern for media freedoms. They are, after all, willing participants in this oppressive system of government.

See also

SWAZILAND CENSORS BBC RADIO

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2011/03/swaziland-censors-bbc-radio.html

SWAZILAND CENSORS BBC RADIO

The Swaziland Government is censoring BBC broadcasts in the kingdom.

This is because last week the BBC broadcast two items that were broadly supportive of people fighting for democracy in the kingdom, ruled by King Mswati III, sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch.

Nelisiwe Shongwe, Minister of Information, Communication and Technology, said yesterday (8 March 2011) that the Focus on Africa Programme that is broadcast in its entirety on state-run radio, SBIS, would in future be ‘edited’ before broadcast.

The Swazi Observer, the newspaper in effect owned by King Mswati, reported her saying that as a Swazi nation, people should understand that there were some pieces of information that could not just be sent to the people. She said they had to consider the impact that information would have.

The Observer reported she said the programme was being ‘delayed by the editing process’.

The newspaper did not give details of the content of the programmes complained of.

They were two features by reporter Louise Redvers broadcast on separate days last week. The first talked to people who see the present economic meltdown in Swaziland as an opportunity to press for democratic change.

The second talked to people who said they were prepared to put their lives on the line to campaign for freedom in the kingdom. Redvers interviewed a student leader, a journalist and a human rights campaigner. They all knew that it is ‘suicidal’ to challenge the king – but nonetheless they are prepared to do so. As one interviewee said, the level of oppression keeps people quiet, but the rulers can’t keep the lid closed.

The censorship was criticised in the Swazi House of Assembly. MP Robert Magongo said that the government was acting dangerously.

He said what government was doing was the equivalent to lying to the people by wanting to only have the minister’s opinion broadcast.

The Observer reported he said such behavior by government had the potential to spark a riot among the people.

To hear the broadcasts click below.

Broadcast 1

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/africa/2011/03/110301_swaziland_economy.shtml

Broadcast 2

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2011/03/bbc-reports-opposition-buoyant.html

REAL STAFF: ‘WE STAND BY OUR STORY’

The Times Sunday reported today (6 February 2011) Nelisiwe Shongwe, Information and Communications Technology Minister and her husband Petros ‘have come out to declare undying love for each other.’

They were making this rather yukky declaration following reports on Facebook and in the Swazi media this week that Petros caught his wife in a car kissing with Sthofeni Ginindza, Chief Executive of African Alliance Swaziland.

Petros is then reported to have beaten his wife with fists and kicks.

‘The couple say their marriage is intact and grows stronger every day,’ the Times Sunday said. And it considered the story so important it devoted nearly 1,200 words to it.

But, Umgosi Eswatini, The Real Staff, the Facebook site that broke the story says – in time honoured investigative journalism fashion – ‘We stand by our story’.

And it has a dig at the Times Sunday for its own poor journalistic practice.

In a message to Umgosi Eswatini Facebook members published today, Gangadza Masilela, responds,

‘I believe you have seen and read today edition of the Sunday Times of Swaziland where there are interviewing the Minister Senanile Snhongwe and her husband. Basics principle of journalism is to get both sides of the story and then publish but what the times did was the opposite. The fact is I Gangadza Masilela stand by each and every word, comer, and full stop. Shame to the Sunday Times and its editor.’

And as for Mr and Mrs Shongwe? I don’t have to remind readers of the number of times celebrity couples have publicly stated their undying devotion to each other before meeting in the divorce court weeks later.

Mr and Mrs Shongwe had better be careful about the public claims they make about their relationship. This one could come back to bite them on the backside.