![]() The Campaign for Free Expression (CFE) in a statement has expressed strong concern at the declaration and called on the government to revoke it. Though a legislative framework exists to protect media freedom, the opposite is true according to HRW. While section 24 of Eswatini’s constitution makes provision for freedom of expression, journalists are hamstrung by state interference and harassment. ![]() ![]() In March 2021 a submission by Human Rights Watch (HRW) also found that eSwatini ranks among the lowest in the world in terms of countries’ level of media freedom. Continuous decline of media freedomĪccording to the 2022 edition of the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) World Press Freedom Index, which assesses the state of journalism in 180 countries and territories, Eswatini ranks 131 of 180 in terms of media freedom. In July of 2021, the eruption of violent pro-democracy demonstrations in Eswatini led to protestors including journalists, facing arbitrary arrests, intimidation, torture and the removal of means to disseminate information as they tried to report the ongoing conflict on the ground.ĭuring these protests, New Frame journalists Magnificent Mndebele and Cebelihle Mbuyisa were abducted, detained and allegedly tortured by security forces in the country merely for doing their work as journalists. We as the media have an obligation to report on what is happening on the ground without censoring ourselves,” says Dlamini. “Eswatini is known by the world for violating human rights, it is not democratic, it is ruled by an absolute monarch. Much of the coverage deals with how pro-democracy movements are being treated. Over recent months, much of Swaiziland News’ content has been strongly critical of the eSwatini authorities, particularly the security forces. They were sentenced to two years’ imprisonment but were released after 15 months following mounting international pressure. In 2014, The Nation editor, Bheki Makhubu, and human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko were convicted of contempt of court for having written articles that were critical of the regime and the then chief justice. So, when dictators want to silence the people they censor the media because they want to shut down the voice of the people,” says Dlamini.Īnother journalist murdered in the line of dutyĮswatini, the last absolute monarch in Africa has a reputation for suppressing the rights to freedom of expression and of the press with apparent impunity, although protest action has increased over the past two years. “Where there is dictatorship, the media become the first victim because the media is the voice of the people. “This declaration will not affect the operation of the Swaziland News because it is registered in South Africa and has not been proscribed in South Africa and the world at large,” says Dlamini.Īfraid for his life, Dlamini fled to South Africa in 2018 because of a series of government authority intimidation and harassment and later the banning of Swaziland News under Eswatini’s Registration of Books and Newspapers Act.Īfter fleeing, he registered and set up his online publication in South Africa and has joined the Press Council of SA, a self-regulatory body which monitors media conduct. Its editor has immediately hit back, saying this is another attack on media freedom in Eswatini. The publication commands a great following with over 49,000 thousand followers on Twitter and 222,000 thousand followers on its Facebook page. Swaziland News is an independent online newspaper established in 2015 that seeks to provide uncensored insight of what is happening in the Kingdom of Eswatini. ![]() Prime Minister Dlamini published the declaration in early July in terms of Eswatini’s Suppression of Terrorism Act. Source: © IOL IOL eSwatini has recently been rocked by pro-democracy protests which have steadily intensified
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