MBABANE: The Campaign for Free Expression(CFE) has noted the threats allegedly issued by new eSwatini Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini against the media.
In a report published on the organization website, CFE said, the PM commenced his term of office with a threat to regulate the media.
It has been reported that, in a recent meeting with members of the Eswatini Editors Forum(EEF) at the Cabinet Offices on Wednesday February 14, the PM said he would enact the long-dormant Media Commission Bill, which would create a government-controlled media regulation body.
The Prime Minister was addressing editors for the first time since he was appointed by King Mswati III to be Head of Government last year.
“Editors left the meeting surprised at the new tough line and fearful for their future in a country that already has limited media freedom.Though the meeting was behind closed doors, the Campaign For Free Expression (CFE) reliably gathered that Dlamini was highly critical of news content, especially in independent newspapers. One person who was present said the Prime Minister had cited the media’s failure to set up its own self-regulatory mechanism.The EEF set up the Media Complaints Commission (MCC), a self-regulation body, a few years ago, but it had never become operational”,reads the report in part.
A questionnaire was sent to Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo,however,he had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
On another note,Bheki Makhubu, the editor of the Nation Magazine recently told SaFM, a South African Broadcasting Corporation(SABC) radio station that,the Prime Minister has “already started thretening” the 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.
Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini.