It was around 2011 when Nation Magazine editor Bheki Makhubu asked to address King Mswati and his mother Queen Ntombi Tfwala during what was known as the Smart Partnership, the meeting was at the Mavuso Trade Centre.
The King and the Queen had asked the media to consider writing positive about the country and Bheki Makhubu took a microphone and said;
“I wish to write something positive about the country, ngichazeleni nje kutsi what is positive about a country that is going down. Yini le-positive ngalelive leli”.
But King Mswati and Queen Ntombi did not behave like Prime Minister(PM) Russell Mmiso Dlamini, they allowed Bheki Makhubu who was standing in front of them to speak, at the time, the country was facing a financial crisis and the King had to run to South Africa for a R2.4billion loan that was vigorously opposed by political organizations including the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) and the Swaziland Solidarity Network(SSN).
Nation Magazine editor Bheki Makhubu has been consistently speaking truth to power for many years but, Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini is interpreting a genuine demand for accountability of public power, as an attack.
Once you hold public power, then you must know you will be subjected to scrutiny by journalists who will be acting in the public interest.
In my career as a journalist and having came closer to Mswati during press conferences and, once saw Makhubu speaking his mind in front of him, I am sure on Friday, he will be laughing at what befell Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini, in fact kungenteka iNkhosi ilale ibulawa sisu ngeluhleko.
Bheki Makhubu has been and, is the face of resilient journalism in eSwatini for many years, you cannot speak about journalism in eSwatini without mentioning Bheki Makhubu’s name.
The editor was persecuted and jailed just for writing an article and in that article, he was speaking for another Liswati Bhantjana Gwebu, the then Chief of the Government Anti Vehicle Abuse Unit who was arrested for doing his job, Bheki Makhubu went to jail for being the voice of the voiceless.
Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini is failing to understand one thing, vibrant editors and journalists speak like Bheki Makhubu and it’s never personal,independent journalists speak their minds and hold those in power accountable.
The King had never in his reign appointed such an emotionally and intellectually weak Prime Minister, this man is an embarrassment to the King and the entire eSwatini Nation, politics is not for “cheesboys”.
But the King might delay to remove Prime Minister Russell Dlamini because Mswati, once he commits a mistake in appointing a wrong person,he takes time to remove that person because doing so, might expose him as well that,he did not apply his mind when taking making the appointment.
Russell Mmiso Dlamini is a very weak Prime Minister,he will mess-up the Government administration and we hope, the King will compromise his principles this time and remove him.
This country is at a very critical stage in terms of politics to have such a weak Prime Minister who seemingly, cannot dialogue but wants things to be done his way.
King Mswati used to laugh Prime Minister Dr Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini who would regularly report that, Sandlane Zwane and Mfomfo Nkambule, the then vibrant appointed Members of Parliament(MPs) were giving him a hard time in Parliament, he likes “emahleta epolitiki” within the Tinkhundla system.
Now, if Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini thinks he will promote a culture of forcing journalists and even Cabinet Ministers to agree with him even when he messes up, thinking the King will sympathize with him, he might regret.
Mswati is not bothered by what is happening to Russell but he might react once he feels his interests or the Throne is threatened.
What happened at the Mountain-In Hotel where Bheki Makhubu heavily questioned the Prime Minister was not thretening the Throne or Mswati’s interests, iNkhosi itawuhleka ibulawe sisu, laughing at a whole Prime Minister who is emotionally weak.
King Mswati(pic:Internet).