Sources and or whistleblowers are the lifeblood of investigative journalism, they play a vital role in promoting a culture of transparency, openness and accountability in the public administration.
A source is a person who provides information to a journalist, the success and downfall of any journalist is determined by, among others, how he or she deals with sources particularly in protecting their identities.
It should noted that while sources remain the lifeblood of investigative journalism, by extension, the independent media remains the lifeblood of democracy.
In a country like eSwatini where the media is highly restricted from holding those in power accountable, the protection of sources should be prioritized by journalists and all stakeholders advocating for media freedom.
At times, as journalists we are tortured by the police who demand to know our sources, only the brave are able to resist and protect these whistleblowers and we don’t know what happened to those scribes who are already working with the State.
As the media, we have a valid reason to influence democratic reforms because media freedom cannot exist in a dictatorship State.
As mentioned, investigative journalism is fully dependent on sources who provide information and therefore, in the new democratic dispensation, we need a law that will ensure the protection of sources or whistleblowers.
Media and other stakeholders must ensure the protection of sources.