By Zweli Martin Dlamini
Africa-Press – Eswatini. Working for the Times and Observer is a very painful experience, you don’t touch sensitive stories involving the King, Queen, members of the royal family and other high profile individuals without authorization from Labadzala.
In fact,the story of King Mswati’s Liphovela Nomcebo Zuma that was exclusively revealed by this Swaziland News and subsequently reported by other South African newspapers,is actually a hot potato for the captured media.
Journalists attend public events attended by the King and his new Liphovela but,they can only admire the Liphovela without reporting anything pending approval from Labadzala.
While working for one of the eSwatini newspapers, I remember visiting Ludzidzini Palace with a colleague a few years ago to meet the then Governor Timothy Velabo(TV) Mtsetfwa, the purpose was to confirm a story where the then Justice Minister Ndumiso Mamba was alleged to have presented cattle to Mswati as an apology for being caught in bed with the late King’s wife Inkhosikati Nothando Dube.
We found Governor TV Mtsetfwa coming from Libandla Room and we started posing questions as he walked fast towards another house inside the Palace trying to avoid the questions:
“Ndvuna yeNkhosi sitfola indzaba kutsi baka-Mamba bekhabo Ndumiso Mamba sebaletse tinkhomo eNgwenyameni kutotigcicita ngendzaba yekulala neNkhosikati, kambe ngabe liciniso na?”.
The Governor reduced the speed and walked slowly, he started to question and threaten us but in a very polite manner.
“Niyitsatsaphi nine lendzaba lenjena, nibobona phela maja inganishisi tandla”, said the Governor.
The response from the Governor was brief, it was a very polite threat warning us to drop the story, otherwise we might be in serious trouble.
“Kusha tandla” is a deep siSwati phrase meaning getting in trouble and when we reported to our editor what happened at the Palace, he warned that the story might invite trouble for us and the newspaper.
So when I write about media censorship perpetrated by royalty, I am talking through experience, I’ve worked for various newspapers and I fully understand why State journalists are reluctant to report about the King’s Liphovela, they are waiting for a royal order giving them a green-light to report.
Even the known uMhlanga phrase “Tintsatseli tiyayalwa kutsi titsatsisise kahle ngaphambi kwekutsi tibhale”, is an indirect threat disguised as advice from those in power.
Journalists are trained on fair reporting and this include seeking both sides of the story and verifying the truthfulness of information before publishing, they don’t need any lecture from royalty, those in power have a tendency of issuing indirect threats to the media to evade accountability.
Now there’s the independent media, even if the King or Queen can die, that nonsense of waiting for a month or two(2) months before announcing the death of a King or Queen will not happen, we will just send a questionnaire to those responsible and if they evade questions we will publish after verifying the truthfulness of the story.
The public constitutional right to access to information should not be at the mercy of those in power, access to information is a human right.
Even in the story of Liphovela, the King is an adult and Nomcebo Zuma is also an adult,marriage of two(2) consenting adults including a Head of State cannot be a secret, in fact it’s not a scandal but a normal story that involves the King.
Unfortunately, the captured media does not enjoy the privilege to report about royalty, they are waiting for an order from Labadzala, newspapers that take orders from royalty or Labadzala are a threat to media freedom.
For More News And Analysis About Eswatini Follow Africa-Press
