(MISA/IFEX) – According to information received by MISA, the government of Swaziland is reportedly intent on pushing through new legislation to address defamation of character by the media. On 17 September 1999, Minister of Public Service and Information Magwagwa Mdluli confirmed that a private law firm was drafting the legislation and that it would be […]
(MISA/IFEX) – According to information received by MISA, the government of
Swaziland is reportedly intent on pushing through new legislation to address
defamation of character by the media. On 17 September 1999, Minister of
Public Service and Information Magwagwa Mdluli confirmed that a private law
firm was drafting the legislation and that it would be tabled in Parliament
with a Certificate of Urgency on Monday 20 September.
The urgency surrounding the enactment of the new legislation comes amid a
furor that erupted following the 12 September appearance of an article in
the “Times Sunday”. The article entitled, “Liphovela a High School Drop
Out”, reported that King Mswati’s latest bride, who was chosen at a recent
Umhlanga Reed Dance ceremony, was, among others, a high school dropout who
had been de-registered from at least two high schools because of truancy.
Following the publication of the story, the editor of the “Times Sunday”,
Bheki Makhubu, has come under pressure from various quarters. On Wednesday
15 September, the story was discussed in Parliament, where Senate President
Muntu strongly condemned the way the story was handled by the paper, saying
they were out to spoil an otherwise good thing. The majority of senators
then agreed that the prime minister, Sibusiso Dlamini, and Minister Mdluli
should be summoned before the senate to explain why the article had been
allowed to be published.
Bheki told MISA that on 15 September police visited him at his office and
requested that he make a statement on three points they presented. First,
they wanted to know the source of his information. Secondly, they wanted him
to make a statement explaining how, according to his editorial opinion, he
thought it was a good story to publish, and finally, they wanted him to
explain what the words “drop out” actually meant. Bheki declined to make a
statement or answer the questions, and the police left saying that they
would seek a court order to force him to answer their questions.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
proposed legislation, which may have an effect on the media and the right of
Swazi citizens to freely receive and impart information
discussion
and allow for public input, which would be in line with acceptable
procedures of democratic governance
Appeals To
Sibusiso Dlamini
The Hon. Prime Minister
Fax: +268 40 43943Senator Magwagwa Mdluli
Minister of Public Service and Information
Fax: +268 40 45379
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
