MBABANE: Sicelo Mhlanga, a journalist of the Swaziland Democratic News was on Thursday shot by Mswati’s police for reporting on the ongoing shooting and killing of unarmed civilians.
The journalist who was reporting live for the online news platform was shot at close range and when the shooting intensified, some citizens ran for cover at the Mbabane Government Hospital.
Speaking to this Swaziland News on Monday, Mhlanga confirmed the shooting and further produced a doctor’s report after he was treated for the injuries.
“The police first warned me not to take their pictures as those pictures would end at the hands of Zwemart and put their lives in danger. As I continued reporting live, I saw one officer preparing his gun to start shooting and thereafter I was shot. I was next to a journalist from the Times but they decided to shoot me alone”, said the journalist.
Police Spokesperson Superintendent Phindile Vilakati had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
Human rights defenders and independent journalists in eSwatini are persecuted for reporting about the ongoing shooting and killing of civilians in the midst of the political unrest.
The Swaziland Democratic News is a pro-democracy online news platform reporting on Facebook about issues of democracy and the persecution of civilians.
Swaziland Democratic News journalist shot.