eSwatini (formerly Swaziland)

(MISA/IFEX) – Traditional authorities in Swaziland continue to harass and intimidate the media, particularly in instances when the Swazi monarchy faces criticism. On 14 June 2008, the traditional governor, Jim Gama, who is regarded as the traditional prime minister, launched a scathing attack on the print media and threatened journalists for what he claimed was […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The privately-owned “Times of Swaziland” newspaper is being sued by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Prince Guduza, for 2,000,000 Euros for alleged defamation. Guduza is brother to King Mswati III. The lawsuit follows recent reports linking the Speaker to an import and export company allegedly involved in illegal trade. Following the […]

(MISA/IFEX) – “The Nation” magazine of Swaziland has recorded a rare media victory in the country through a High Court decision to grant the publication a reprieve in a case in which they had been ordered to pay over US$15,000 for defamation. On 22 February 2008, the High Court of Swaziland granted the privately owned […]

Freedom of the Press 2007: Swaziland

(MISA/IFEX) – On 10 October 2007, “Sunday Times” editor Mbongeni Mbingo was cleared of contempt charges brought against him by the House of Assembly. The Select Committee found that the editor did not in any way abuse freedom of the press, but was legitimately expressing his journalistic opinion. His right to do so is enshrined […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 9 July 2007, the editor of the privately-owned “Nation” magazine, Bheki Makhubu, was sued for E3.5 million (approx. US$500,000) by a Member of Parliament for alleged defamation of character. The MP, Marwick Khumalo, an ex-journalist and also a member of the Pan African Parliament, claims to have been defamed by an article […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On July 4, 2007, Parliament in Swaziland sought to sanction the editor of the privately owned “Times of Swaziland” Sunday newspaper for expressing himself about the affairs of the House of Assembly in a recent commentary in his publication. Irate MPs refused to be educated or corrected on the right of freedom of […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 19 June 2007, a case in which the privately owned “Nation” magazine is being sued for E5 million (approx. US$ 750,000) by a Mbabane businessman for alleged defamation, resumed at the Swaziland High Court. However, the case could not proceed as “Nation” raised an objection around supplementary papers filed by the applicant, […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 24 June 2007, the Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Njabulo Mabuza, banned the media from entering the Mbabane Government Hospital, Swaziland’s biggest hospital, in search of news. This followed a series of media exposés on the alleged perpetual negligence of hospital staff that resulted in the recent death of a young […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On March 7, 2007 the High Court of Swaziland dismissed a E750,000 (approx. US$100,000) lawsuit against the “Times of Swaziland” newspaper filed by the Minister for Education, Themba Msibi. The case was dismissed on grounds that the wrong parties were cited in the particulars of claim. Msibi, ex-Minister for Public Service and Information, […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On February 23, 2007, one of King Mswati III’s right-hand men heavily censored the media during a press conference which the King gave on his return from a European trip. This latest incident comes in the wake of several appeals by the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Swaziland, to Swazi traditional authorities […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The semi-private newspaper, the “Swazi Observer”, has been sued for E1 million (approx. US$143,000) by a Member of Parliament for alleged defamation. In court papers, the MP, Maqhawe Mavuso, has claimed that the newspaper defamed him by publishing a story to the effect that he assaulted an ex-Clerk to Parliament, Ben Zwane, when […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On March 2, 2007, controversial church pastor Justice Dlamini threatened two journalists with death through divine intervention. Dlamini shocked a church gathering, which also included Cabinet Ministers, when he declared from the pulpit that he was praying for the death of two journalists, “Times of Swaziland” Managing Editor Martin Dlamini and reporter Nhlanhla […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The “Times of Swaziland” newspaper has been sued for E75,000 (approx. US$10,000) by a man accused of recently bombing government structures and who is facing high treason charges at the High Court of Swaziland. Vusi Shongwe states in court papers that on February 8, 2006, the “Times” published his picture on the front […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 8 November 2006, “The Times of Swaziland” newspaper was found guilty of defamation and ordered by the High Court to pay E20,000 (approx. US$3,000) in compensation to former attorney general Phesheya Dlamini, now Swaziland’s envoy to the United Nations. The court found that, on 3 November 2003, the newspaper published an article […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 5 October 2006, the “Times of Swaziland” newspaper was accused of having defamed Parliament and ordered to apologise. A parliamentary committee charged with investigating the newspaper over an article published on 8 March found that the article in question “damaged the dignity and reputation of Parliament”. The report states that “the ‘Times […]