By Musa Mdluli

MBABANE:Thabile Mdluli,the Acting Government Spokesperson says editor Zweli Martin Dlamini is in contempt of court by publishing more than two(2) articles without giving Government seventy-two(72) hours to respond.

In an email send to the editor on Wednesday, Mdluli said, the editor further published that, the Deputy Government Spokesperson refused to comment when in fact, the questionnaire was within the 72 hours stipulated timeline.

“We note that in as much as the Mpumalanga High Court gave us 72 hours to respond to your queries, you have unlawfully and contemptuously defied the interim Court Order by publishing a fake story titled “Prince Guduza wanted his granddaughter Sivikelwe Mjongile to be married by his brother King Mswati”, wherein you made a false bold statement that the Deputy Government Spokesperson had refused to respond to your questionnaire, whereas she was within the timeline stipulated in the interim order to respond”, reads the email in part.

Responding to the contempt of court accusations, editor Zweli Martin Dlamini said, the Acting Government Spokesperson “has a right to interpret the court order in a way that favours Government.

“Urgent stories will not wait for seventy-two(72) hours because in my own understanding, that’s not what the court order says. The order speaks about prima facie defamatory and critical articles and in the absence of another order declaring an article that it falls within the description of the court order, I will continue to conclude that anyone who accuses me of contempt of court is entitled to his/her opinion.I can only advise the Acting Government Spokesperson to be in consistent communication with the editor and acknowledge receipt of emails while preparing for timely responses. Failure to acknowledge receipt of a questionnaire and keep quiet, amounts to refusal to comment in my view”, said the editor.