By Zweli Martin Dlamini

I once told a Swaziland News journalist whose salary was paid under an internationally funded project to respect the job, it’s very hard to secure employment in eSwatini these days that will pay you a reasonable monthly salary as the economy is not doing well.

Before dismissing a journalist, we normally give ourselves time to warn that journalist, at least several times, because taking a decision to fire a person regardless of the gravity of the offense, is not easy particularly when you know, you literally sending that individual to poverty.

The past few days, we have been reporting about Sabelo Ndzinisa, the Times journalist who stands accused of extorting thirteen thousand Rands(R13,000.00) bribe from an elderly high profile man.

Worth-noting I know Sabelo Ndzinisa personally, when I was an entertainment journalist with the Swazi Observer in my early days in the media,he was the Sports editor and, is one of the few remaining highly experienced journalists in the country.

Well, even though I am of the view that, a journalist who specializes in extortion and bribery must be fired, the Times Management, as an experienced employer will independently deal with this matter taking into account whether Ndzinisa has been warned several times on similar acts of corruption or ‘is the first offender’.

It’s not always easy to expose your colleagues but this matter had a potential to result to the victim, as an old man,suffering a stroke, extortion must be discouraged, we don’t want people to live in fear in this country just because journalists know their secrets.

Journalists are servants of the people with a responsibility to disseminate information, not to use that information to hold others who does not have the privilege to hold the powerful pen, hostage.

Sabelo Ndzinisa has been suspended but personally I don’t wish the worse for him,the onus is upon his employer to decide the appropriate disciplinary measures based on evidence and mitigation sentiments from the accused if found guilty.

What is important here is that, the media must be seen taking action against journalists who extort high profile individuals and depending on the gravity of the offense, those found to be corrupt and proven to be intentional offenders, must be fired.

But as mentioned, even here at the Swaziland News, we don’t just fire a journalist, that decision is taken after consistent warnings and if Sabelo Ndzinisa has been warned several times, he must be fired.

The final decision will be taken by his employer because in as much as we are discouraging corruption, the Times is obligated to follow labour laws and be seen to be fair to the accused employee throughout the disciplinary process.

Journalists must refrain from extorting high profile individuals or members of the public, it’s a criminal offense that undermines the integrity of the entire media.

But having said that, journalists must respect their jobs, employment opportunities are fast becoming scarce in this country.