By Zweli Martin Dlamini

The Swaziland News is an independent online publication and is not edited by Government or the King.

Anyone in the corridors of power who dream of imposing decisions or controlling this publication and even going as far as telling me as the editor, that reporting about activities of the Solidarity Forces amounts to terrorism, must back-off.

I will continue to report and disseminate information while resisting efforts by the Government to silence this publication either through the courts or the illegal moves adopted by this cruel regime to remove me from the face of this earth.

This online publication is not edited in Cabinet or the King’s Office, this is an independent media seeking to demand transparency and accountability in the public administration.

I can assure those in power that, once the pro-democracy Solidarity Forces resume their operations as a reiteration to the killing of civilians by Mswati’s regime, we will report and inform the public.

There’s no court order currently,restricting us from publishing stories and we will make sure we defend the voices of the oppressed citizens in all platforms including the courts.

Lastly, we want to thank all the organizations and individuals who are assisting us in defending the freedom of the media through the South African courts, for the first time, this regime is struggling to shutdown a publication that is critical in demanding accountability from those in power.

Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo labelled me as the friend of the Commander when speaking to NewsRoom Afrika recently, he even went as far as linking me to the activities of the Solidarity Forces.

It is only a ‘political fool’ or alleged low minded person like Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo who can conclude that when a journalist report about activities of the Solidarity Forces, then that means the journalist is part of the underground forces.

Well,I don’t mind being called names but, the truth is;as long as I’m the editor here, the State won’t silence the voices of the pro-democracy movement.

Journalism is about reporting news and disseminating information to the public and we are not here to romance this cruel and oppressive Government.