By Bongiwe Dlamini

MPUMALANGA:King Mswati,an absolute Monarch has accused the editor of this Swaziland News Zweli Martin Dlamini of pushing the agenda of what he described a terrorist entity, the Swaziland International Solidarity Forces(SISF).

This is contained in court papers dated 11th January 2024 where the King and the Government of eSwatini is seeking an interdict against the editor and this publication on alleged defamatory articles.

The matter is before the Mpumalanga High Court and the papers were served to the editor’s legal team.

In the court papers, the King who is represented by the Acting Prime Minister of eSwatini further accused the editor of reporting in a manner that was favorable and pushing the agenda of the Solidarity Forces while accusing him of killing innocent civilians.

“The actions of ZM Dlamini and the Swaziland News in reporting on these incidents in the favourable (to SISF) manner in which they have reported, constitute offenses because they will or are likely to enhance the ability of the SISF to engage in terrorist activities, and further constitute the soliciting of support and giving of support to the SISF.ZM Dlamini and the Swaziland News clearly support the SISF and their publications aim to encourage support for them by others.Their repeated claims that the King “and his allies” ‘’to shoot and kill dozens of civilians merely for demanding democratic reforms’’ are false, to the knowledge of Z M Dlamini and Swaziland news.They are incendiary and are published maliciously as advocacy of hatred which is excluded from protection as it constitutes incitement to cause harm with the intention to incite a violent response, and to justify the actions of this terrorist organization”, reads the court papers in part.

The King further noted that, the reports about the actions of the Solidarity Forces were published quickly by the editor and this publication.

“What is also deeply concerning to the Applicant is how quickly the reports are published, in the case of the attack on the military, the very next day after the attack had occurred, which indicates ongoing and close communication between the Commander of the terrorist forces and ZM Dlamini and the Swaziland News”, reads the court papers in part.