PUT UP OR SHUT UP, SENATOR TOLD

A loud mouthed Swaziland senator has been told to put up or shut up over her allegations that Swazi journalists have leaked ‘sensitive’ information to South African newspapers.

The Swaziland National Association of Journalists (SNAJ) says Senator Ndileka Dlamini has tainted local reporters with her allegations.

The row started when Dlamini called on the Swazi Government to ‘deal’ with any local reporter found to be leaking ‘sensitive news’.

She called for a sense of ‘patriotism’ from journalists.

‘They must learn to respect the country and know that what they are doing is wrong,’ she told senators.

Senators were angry that although news in Swaziland is censored, overseas’ publications and the Internet can carry the truth about the kingdom. This was especially the case recently when news of the Swazi Royal Family sex scandal was reported across the globe, but not in Swaziland.

Now, SNAJ has told Dlamini to name and shame the journalists involved in such practice instead of tainting all journalists in the country. ‘If the senator has information substantiating her accusations she should rightly expose the individual than to taint local journalists as being the ones behind such acts.

‘For all we know, the source of such could have been from within the House itself considering the available resources,’ SNAJ said in a statement.

SNAJ said the Senator should substantiate her claims by providing evidence of those journalists leaking sensitive stories to the South African media. Failing which the Senator should withdraw her statements unconditionally.

SWAZI POLICE TORTURE JOURNALISTS

Swaziland police have been accused of torturing and detaining two television reporters.

The journalists, who work for Swaziland’s only independent television station Channel S, say they were arrested by police while they were following a story about a crime syndicate.

It is reported that police thought the journalists were part of the criminal gang. They were released without charge.

Now, the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) http://www.misa.org has asked police and other security agencies not to disturb journalists in their duties.

According to a report in the Swazi Observer yesterday (18 December 2008), Director of the MISA Swaziland Chapter Comfort Mabuza said if there were suspicions in the way journalists conduct themselves, the relevant entities should be contacted.

Mabuza also urged journalists to investigate stories and not rely on sources for information.

‘Do not run for a story without satisfying yourself that it is not foul play. Investigate a story and confirm it.’

Secretary General of the Swaziland National Association of Journalists (SNAJ) Timothy Simelane said the alleged detention and harassment of the two was unfortunate.

‘From what we have gathered so far, the journalists were on duty and had been promised a story yet this was not to be the case. However, no matter the circumstance, the police had no prerogative to harass them, nor detain them for so many hours.

‘Members of the public are also warned not to take journalists for a ride by promising them news, yet the motive is to abuse them to settle personal scores with opponents. Similarly, journalists are warned not to fall for scheming bogus sources, but to screen them first to avoid being taken for a ride.’

Simelane said the association would investigate the matter further.

SWAZI JOURNALISTS STAND FIRM

Swazi journalists are refusing to be intimidated by warnings that they will be jailed if they contravene the Swaziland’s Suppression of Terrorism Act, 2008.

The Swaziland Attorney General warned journalist that they would be in trouble with the law if they published things that were critical of the Swazi Government and supported ‘terrorist’ organisations.

The Times of Swaziland reports today (19 November 2008) that journalists argue ‘that it would not only be irresponsible but also unconstitutional for government to send scribes to jail for reporting accurately and factually about actual events’.

The Times reports, ‘Both the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Swaziland Chapter and the Swaziland National Association of Journalists (SNAJ) have reacted with disapproval to the warning about being careful how they go about their duties in light of the authorities’ decision to use this law against those perceived to be terrorists’.

The law stipulates jail sentences of up to 25 years for people involved in terrorism acts or those who appear to be sympathising with perceived terrorists.

The Times said the warning to journalists was sounded by Attorney General Majahenkhaba Dlamini, who said journalists would not be spared if it became apparent that they were reporting in a manner that seemed to support terrorists.

Timothy Simelane, SNAJ Secretary General, says journalists are not intimidated by threats that they could be in trouble for reporting on entities branded terrorists.

‘Journalists have an obligation to inform the public,’ he said.

‘As long as whatever matter at hand is news worthy and factual, we are going to report it.’

Simelane said as an organisation with the interests of journalists in mind, they did not want to believe that the Suppression of Terrorism Act was there to silence journalists.

He said they drew strength from the Swaziland Constitution Section 25 which gives the right to the freedom of assembly and association. The constitution also protects the right to freedom of expression, which includes the right to freedom of the press and media.

Comfort Mabuza, MISA Swaziland Director, said penalising the media for reporting facts would be an irresponsible development on the part of government.