Africa-Press – Eswatini. Freedom of expression witnessed suppression at the hand of monarchical-appointed Prime Minister, Cleopas Sipho Dlamini, on Thursday June 30, after designating both, Zweli Martin Dlamini, Managing editor of the Swaziland News, and the pro-democracy media house, as terrorists in Legal Notice 261 of 2022, of the Suppression of Terrorism Act (Act No. 3 of 2008).
“This publication is pro-democratic. We have been publishing articles critical against the King and the government. As you know, the media is highly censored,” Zweli Dlamini told Newzroom Africa adding, “they’re trying to play propaganda on the international community so that they may view the stories that we publish as in support of terrorism in Swaziland.”
On what raises the ire of the Monarch, Zweli explained to SABT-TV’s The Globe that, “The media is restricted from criticizing or holding the Mswati accountable. As that, they don’t want any stories to be published. They don’t want you to publish the things which they don’t want to reach the public domain,” saying further, “Journalism is not a crime.”
“There were no formal complaints that were directed to us, about this article apart from a pending court”, Zweli told The Globe.
On the World Press Freedom Index 2021, Eswatini ranked 131 out of 141 countries, an index which compares, “press freedom enjoyed by journalists and media.” It defines press freedom as, “the ability of journalists as individuals and collectives to select, produce, and disseminate news in the public interest independent of political, economic, legal, and social interference and in the absence of threats to their physical and mental safety.”
Published in April 2022, was the 2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practice report which found, “government was sensitive to comments criticizing the king, using provisions of anti terrorism and other laws.”
MIt confirms, “The constitution and law provide for freedom of expression, including for members of the press and other media,but the government restricted this right, particularly with respect to press freedom and matters concerning the monarchy.”
Although in March 2012, the Kingdom of Eswatini committed at the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the United Nations Human Rights Council its preparedness to amend the Suppression of Terrorism Act of 2008 (STA)because it is wholly untenable legislation and confront the crucial issues of freedom of expression and success of democracy, in 2022 Eswatini still cannot be described as a country abiding by its obligations under international and regional human rights law.
Eswatini’s ideology, under the Swazi Indigenous Monarch, King Mswati III, has long raised the question of the distribution of power between the King and the people, emaSwati.
Should the King not also be ruled by his people? Should there be no effective checks and balances to the abuse of power by the King and those he appoints, like the Prime Minister? The King dominates institutions and individuals in what is, in fact, considered to be a lack of an open and free society.
Zweli has reiterated that, “We will continue holding the government of Swaziland accountable.
We are trying by all means to make sure all our journalists in Swaziland are safe. We will continue operating the way we have been doing. We will publish critical articles,” emphasizing, “this publication is the voice of the voiceless.”Predominantly, broadcast media is state-controlled.
These serious allegations currently unsubstantiated by facts.
Rather, the Kingdom of Eswatini government is making an assault on freedom of expression and press freedom, the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) has reported. Meanwhile, the obscene, luxurious lifestyle of the royal family continues to stand in stark contrast to the lack of freedom of the press and dire socioeconomic crisis in the country.
Two years ago, in February 2020, security forces arrested Zweli for news articles critical of government. He fled to South Africa.
King Mswati III, has co-ruled together with his mother, Queen Mother Ntombi, as monarchs exercising veto powers on three branches of government, positioning themselves above the constitution, since his coronation in 1986.
After a 62 years reign, King Sobhuza II, who was King Mswati II’s father, died in 1982. Modern day emaSwati have been under monarchial rule for more than98 years.
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