There is ‘no media freedom’
in Swaziland (eSwatini) according to the Reporters Without Borders 2020 World
Press Freedom Index just published.
It described the kingdom as
an ‘absolute monarchy that prevents journalists from working freely’.
In its annual review of press freedom around the world, the group
reported, ‘No court is allowed to prosecute or try members of the government,
but any criticism of the regime is liable to be the subject of a prosecution.
Far from being an independent protector of rights and freedoms, the judicial
system is often used to undermine journalism. In 2019, for example, a court
decision banned articles about the circumstances in which a new bank obtained a licence
to operate in the kingdom. A ubiquitous obsession with secrecy makes it hard to
access information and the state wields total control over the media.
‘The king’s speechwriter is the editor in chief of the country’s oldest and most popular newspaper. The only privately-owned TV channel belongs to the royal family and criticism of the authorities is severely punished thanks to the existence of dozens of draconian laws under which reporters can be prosecuted.
‘The king’s speechwriter is the editor in chief of the country’s oldest and most popular newspaper. The only privately-owned TV channel belongs to the royal family and criticism of the authorities is severely punished thanks to the existence of dozens of draconian laws under which reporters can be prosecuted.
‘Harassment, intimidation
and physical violence against journalists are all common and result in almost
constant self-censorship.
In January 2018, an investigative journalist had to flee to South Africa
after being threatened in connection with an article about the king’s alleged
involvement in a corruption case. His
newspaper was closed on the king’s orders. Several photojournalists were
also attacked, including by police.’
King Mswati III rules
Swaziland as an absolute monarch and freedoms speech, assembly and association
are severely limited. Political parties are banned from taking part in elections
and the king chooses the prime minister and government as well as top judges
and civil servants.
Media freedom is severely
limited and investigative journalists live with constant harassment. In the
past month alone there have been a number of attacks on the Swaziland News,
an online newspaper. Mfomfo
Nkambule a comment writer reported in March 2020 that he had been tortured by police
after he wrote articles critical of the king.
The editor of the Swaziland
News Zweli
Martin Dlamini fled
to neighbouring South Africa in the same month for the second time. He said
he had been arrested and tortured by Swazi police who accused him of sedition.
Also, on 7 February
2020, The Swaziland News reported Dlamini was being harassed and
receiving death threats from King Mswati’s first born daughter Princess
Sikhanyiso, who is the Minister of Information Communication and Technology.
Dlamini
had previously fled to South Africa in fear of his life in 2018. He had received
death threats from a local businessman and his newspaper Swaziland
Shopping was shut down by the Swazi government.
The Swaziland News
is one of a number of websites and social media outlets using the internet to
advocate for democratic reform in Swaziland. In January 2020 National
Commissioner of Police William Dlamini said police would hunt down and
arrest people who criticised King Mswati on social media. He made
the announcement in a written statement published in media across Swaziland.
A report
compiled by Swazi Media Commentary in May 2019 detailing attacks on
journalists in Swaziland during the previous 12 months revealed they had been
beaten by state forces and teachers as they tried to cover public events. Two
were detained at the Qatar Embassy in Mbabane, the Swazi capital, when they
went to question a diplomat. A government minister called for a journalist to
be arrested for taking photographs of ministerial cars parked in a public place.
A former newspaper editor was questioned by police about allegations he had
interviewed members of banned political organisations back in 2011.
See also
Swaziland
journalist ‘tortured by police after criticising absolute monarch in newspaper
articles’
Newspaper
editor flees Swaziland for second time after arrest and police torture
‘Attempt
made to poison journalist critic of Swaziland’s absolute monarch,’ editor says
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