MBABANE:Bhekithemba Makhubu, the editor of the independent Nation Magazine says,Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini has already started thretening the media within three(3) months in office.
The veteran editor was interviewed by SaFM, a South African Broadcasting Corporation(SABC) radio station on Tuesday evening about the persecution of Swaziland News editor Zweli Martin Dlamini by the eSwatini Government and the killing of human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko.
Makhubu stated categorically that,the media was not free in eSwatini and highlighted about the recent statement by the PM where he threatened the media.
The Nation Magazine editor who was the first to expose the breakdown in the administration of justice in eSwatini, and subsequently thrown behind bars together with human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko by the then Chief Justice Micheal Ramodibedi, said the court case against the Swaziland News editor was part of the ongoing persecution against the editor and the entire media.
“We just heard the Prime Minister making threats against us and is hardly three(3) months in office but he is already making threats against the media”, said the Nation Magazine editor.
A questionnaire was sent to Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo,however,he had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
On another note,the Nation Magazine editor told SaFM that human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko was killed despite the fact that he was not a violent person who believed in peaceful engagements to attain democracy.
The late human rights lawyer was the part-time writer for the Nation Magazine, he was arrested with his editor Bheki Makhubu in 2014 for criticizing the judiciary.
Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini.