MBABANE:Giyani Msibi, a journalist of the State owned Eswatini TV was on Sunday, allegedly attacked by members of the Mbabane Anglican Church in his line of duty and forced to delete pictures and videos.
The attack was confirmed by the Office of the Eswatini National Association of Journalists(ESNAJ) Secretary General Ntombi Mhlongo in a statement sent to this Swaziland News on Monday.
“The Eswatini National Association of Journalists (ESNAJ) strongly condemns reports of an alleged attack on one of its members, Giyani Msibi from Eswatini Television Authority which occurred while he was conducting his duties at the Anglican Church in Mbabane on Sunday. The journalist was not only attacked but was forcefully made to delete pictures he had captured during the service,” reads the statement in part.
The Journalists Association further acknowledged the ethical role of journalists to seek consent when covering events while emphasizing that, church issues are of public interest.
“While we acknowledge that as per our code of ethics, our reporters have to seek consent when covering events, which the journalist did, we also believe that church issues are of public interest. ESNAJ views this act as a deliberate attempt to intimidate and silence journalists who are fulfilling their constitutional and ethical responsibility to seek the truth,” the Journalists Association said through the statement.
State owned Eswatini TV journalist Giyani Msibi attacked by Anglican Church members and forced to delete videos and pictures, Journalists Association condemns assault.