By Zweli Martin Dlamini

After Nation Magazine Bheki Makhubu’s arrest in 2014, I remember visiting Innocent Maphalala, the then Times Sunday editor in his office, I was just visiting a colleague as per his invitation.

But we ended-up talking about Bheki Makhubu who was behind bars, Maphalala’s face immediately changed and he said; “ungangikhulumisi ngalomuntfu loyo uyedzelela, uyetfukana in his articles”.

Worth-noting, I was from Sidvwashini Prison to visit Makhubu and Qhawe Mamba, the prison authorities allowed me to see the two(2) journalists at the same time, they were very friendly and I even called the then Commissioner General Mzuthini Ntjangase to thank him.

Now, it is important to contextualize why and how Bheki Makhubu was arrested in the first place and what was the motive behind the persecution which was perpetrated by the Judiciary.

Makhubu was arrested together with late human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko at the peak of the media capture and, the arrest was meant to silence the media because at the time, he was the only remaining vocal journalist.

The crackdown on the media was driven by the former Prime Minister Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini and the then Chief Justice Michael Ramodibedi, Makhubu was giving both the PM and the CJ who were ‘close friends’, a hard time, demanding accountability.

On the other hand, the Times was questionably losing lawsuits as Judges were eager to silence the media, the media capture and crackdown on independent journalists manifested while some of us were already practicing in the media, we witnessed it and we can write novels about what happened at the time.

But apart from that, the media was infiltrated by political elements, senior editors were promised jobs in Government if they support the Tinkhundla system.

Mario Masuku, the then President of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) was removed as Times columnist after Majahenkhaba Dlamini, the then Attorney General(AG) wrote to the Times Directors and editors, warning against allowing a ‘terrorist’ to write for the newspaper.

This was a few months after PUDEMO was declared a terrorist entity by Barnabas.

The only editor who remained standing amid the crackdown was Bheki Makhubu but, the regime arrested him merely for criticizing the then Chief Justice Michael Ramodibedi who arrested Chief Anti-Government Vehicle Abuse Unit Bhantjana Gwebu.

The CJ had violated the principles of fairness in that, he denied Gwebu legal representation and detained him unjustly.

After the arrest of Bheki Makhubu, journalists started to toe the line but, other editors turned against Makhubu instead of advocating for his release, it was only Swazi Observer editor Mbongeni Mbingo and the late editor Thulani Tfwala who were demanding Bheki Makhubu’s release.

But on the other hand, it was the bravery of the Nation Magazine Assistant editor Nimrod Mabuza and journalist Vuyisile Hlatjwako who ensured that, the Magazine remain in circulation while Makhubu was behind bars.

Innocent Maphalala shocked me by labeling Makhubu as a disrespectful journalist, he even wrote articles blasting the persecuted editor.

The Tinkhundla regime caused a use damage in the media, editors were divided as those who were criticizing Government would be disowned by their colleagues, that was at the peak of the eSwatini media capture.

Now, in the midst of the media self-regulation process, we must warn those editors who think they can use the media as a bargaining tool, Bheki Makhubu went to prison while protecting media freedom and we won’t allow his efforts to be in vain.

The media capture gained momentum around 2009 and I was already in the media, Prime Minister Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini used to call me and there was desperation by the regime to capture all journalists with a potential to question those in power.

So those editors who think they can try me when I criticize the King or Government must know that, I’m well-versed how the media capture manifested and who were the victims, perpetrators and accomplices within the media industry.

Therefore, we won’t allow sellouts in the media to use journalism as a bargaining tool, we will monitor each and every move of the media self-regulation, it must be in the public interest and in line with global journalism standards.

In my view,supporting another journalist who is in trouble or persecuted does not mean you must first agree with that writer’s style or journalism, I sometimes disagree with Nation Magazine editor Bheki Makhubu and I don’t subscribe to Qhawe Mamba’s Tinkhundla ideology.

Even though the arrest of Qhawe Mamba was more on business interests and not linked to journalism but I remember Prime Minister Barnabas Dlamini thretening him during a press conference saying “sitakusebenta Mamba”, whether he was guilty or not but there was political influence.

But going to prison to visit them, I was inspired by the work they have done for the country as journalists, now we have journalists who wish to see the fall of others so that they can rise.