Thursday, May 5, 2011

SWAZI KING ‘ENEMY OF PRESS FREEDOM’

Reporters Without Borders


3 May 2011


SOURCE


Predators of Press Freedom: Swaziland - Mswati III


With an HIV/AIDS prevalence of about 40 per cent, a soaring poverty rate and no viable economy, foreign investors have thrown in the sponge. Swaziland is self-destructing and if there is single person to blame it is clearly King Mswati III. Lacking vision and management abilities, this absolute monarch abuses his royal powers. No rivals are tolerated. Political parties are banned, and what would good they be in a country that has never had democratic elections?


The state-owned media only carry reports that have been checked and approved by the information minister. Independent journalists find it extremely hard to get access to official information. Self-censorship is standard practice and criticising the king is inconceivable. The authorities often remind journalists how to behave, warning those who criticize the government that they could find themselves "accused of supporting terrorism and arrested."


The government forced two journalists, Mfomfo Nkambule of the Times of Swaziland (the only privately-owned newspaper) and Mario Masuku of the Times Sunday, to stop writing their columns in 2009. Several journalists were briefly detained in April 2011 while covering demonstrations calling for the king's removal.

2 comments:

Mandla Maseko said...

by Mandla Maseko waMgazi
i wonder if anyone will remember the edition of 11 August 2006

the Publication was about his relationship with De Klerk the leader of of the Former South African Regime
now we should ask ourselfs as Swazis South African Swazis in Particula are we to associate Our self with the King who helped the Regime to oppress his own Subjects just so that he can maintain ruling power continuosly even if it means selling his own subject he is like a witch who sacrifices his own children just to please the demons.He tried everything to make himself suite the Position that is not rightfully his since he is not of the Maseko Lineage but Tembe thonga lineage
Swazis.the burning point is that Swazi people of Swaziland are suffering under imposter Royal house Swazis are being oppressed by emaThonga in their Own Land this situation is exactly like the Jews in the Time of King Herod who himself was not a Jew but a King in Jewish land Makhosetive is not Swazi he will never be one ulithonga lomuntu that is why he is afraid to implement reforms in Swaziland his greatest concern is that Swazis will reject him thus ignoring the fact that he is already rejected we emaNgcamane People are worried and at large concerned with all oppression that is taking place in our Peoples lifes we unable to withstand the abusive strategies by Makhosetive
at the end we will win the freedom of Our People
By Mandla Maseko waMazi

Anonymous said...

WHAT IS WRONG with African leaders why Greedy with Power
Mandla Maseko waMgazi