Eswatini Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini Stops Breakfast Meetings with Editors after being Questioned by Independent Minded Nation Magazine Editor Bheki Makhubu

Africa-Press – Eswatini. Eswatini Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini has taken a decision to stop holdings Breakfast Meetings with editors after being questioned by Bheki Makhubu, the independent minded editor of the Nation Magazine.

The PM first indicated during the Breakfast Meeting on Friday morning that, he will walk out, should editor Bheki Makhubu be given a microphone to speak again and this, comes after the editor told the Prime Minister that the role of the media “is not to write positively so that he can look good, but to keep him in-check”.

Bheki Makhubu is the same editor who was once arrested and convicted for holding those in power accountable or writing critical articles, he was subsequently released from prison amid international pressure.

Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo released a statement later on Friday, informing the Nation that, to protect the Office of the Prime Minister, Government has taken a decision to redesign how the public will be informed about Government business and issues of national importance going forward.

“To protect the Office of the Prime Minister, Government has taken the decision to redesign how the public will be informed about Government business and issues of national importance going forward”, reads the statement in part.

The PM has been at loggerheads with the independent media seeking to regulate the press while refusing to account amid allegations of corruption or stealing of public funds, he has taken decisions seeking to frustrate the media from reporting about his alleged corruption, including the “on and off” decision banning public officials from responding.

But on Friday during the Breakfast Meeting, the Prime Minister publicly demonstrated unwillingness to account or to be questioned by the media when he ordered captured Chairman of the Eswatini Editors Forum(EEF) Mbongeni Mbingo not to give Makhubu the microphone to speak again.

Mbingo complied with the PM’s order and refused to provide the microphone to editor Bheki Makhubu.

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