MBABANE:Thokozani Kenneth Kunene, the General Secretary(GS) of the Communist Party of Swaziland(CPS) sent a hot message to the editor of this Swaziland News, Zweli Martin Dlamini accusing him of being a State propagandist.
This was after the editor published a story where King Mswati was quoted condemning domestic violence and the killing of women.
“Makhosetive is involved in gender based violence on daily basis.He physically assault his wives.This is propaganda which Swaziland News is its mouth piece.Your platform is a new propaganda machinery of the autocracy,” said the CPS General Secretary in the message.
On another note,editor Zweli Martin Dlamini warned leaders of political parties to refrain from undermining media freedom.
“Any leader who is fighting democracy will understand that a journalist report positive, critical, investigative,political and other relevant news.The statement of the King condemning domestic violence was clear and straight forward, he was condemning domestic violence which is a positive comment from a Head of State.If Mswati is assaulting his wives, that’s another story but at Lozitha he was condemning domestic violence.Political leaders must know that as the editor, I don’t account to them but the public and media regulatory institutions, I work independently and decide how to balance the news.Such attitude suggests that some of these leaders don’t understand the democracy they are fighting for if they fail to embrace media freedom.The independence of the media is not only about exposing the government or the King but reporting news from both the conservatives and progressives”, said the editor.
Editor Zweli Martin Dlamini.