By Musa Mdluli

MBABANE:Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini says, he never banned editor Zweli Martin Dlamini and this Swaziland News but, it was a decision of the previous Cabinet.

The PM was confronted by some Cabinet Ministers this week who wanted to know if it’s now a Government position to respond to this publication, this was after the Prime Minister started to respond to this publication.

Responding to this Swaziland News on Sunday, the Prime Minister said “what matters the most is that the media must be seen reporting the truth without manipulating it and by so doing, his current administration will not have a problem in working with the independent media as a critical stakeholder.

“What matters for every media house is whether they report the truth and accurately or manipulate the truth,” said the Prime Minister.

The PM said, he was concerned so see some media houses being used to settle political scores adding that, the media must remain fair without manipulating the truth.

The Prime Minister then informed editor Zweli Martin Dlamini on Sunday to start communicating with Acting Government Spokesperson Thabile Mdluli when seeking clarification on issues involving Cabinet or the Government or contact him directly.

The Prime Minister is alleged to have told Cabinet Ministers that, “he has since realized that there were people in the corridors of power who have been misleading him not to speak to ‘Zwemart’ while they speak to the editor secretly. He said he now wants the editor to receive official responses on Cabinet or Government issues not secret leaks so that he can publish balanced articles.