By Zweli Martin Dlamini

The inclusion of the right to information in the Constitution of 2005 was actually meant to foster a culture of transparency, openness and accountability and therefore, the media as the fourth eState, has a constitutional obligation to demand accountability in the public administration and of course,in the public interest.

It is surprising therefore,to note that, in this country where hundreds of emaSwati are dying amid shortage of drugs in public hospitals, we are seeing Mbongeni Mbingo, the outgoing Chairman of the Editors Forum defending alleged corrupt political criminals that include Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini and SwaziPharm Director Kareem Ashraff instead of asking hard questions regarding the ongoing health crisis.

Once journalists become defense lawyers or Advocates for the corrupt, rich, powerful and politically connected individuals while disregarding the fundamental obligation and mandate of thee media, then emaSwati should know that, the country has literally collapsed.

Indeed, the media as the Fourth eState, is the last line of defense for the poor and vulnerable where they report issues affecting or impacting their welfare and therefore, we are obligated to amplify the voices of the oppressed.

An interview with those in power should not be about defending them on allegations of wrongdoing but, affording them an opportunity to account on issues of vital public interest particularly, the ongoing health crisis. 

Mbongeni Mbingo is one of the most corrupt editors in our lifetime, the powers vested upon us as editors should not be about self-enrichment or creating proximity with those in power but, to defend the rights of the poor while fostering political, economic and social justice.

This means those voiceless citizens who can’t speak for themselves must have a loud voice through the media.

But now, we are seeing powerful individuals who are allegedly complicit or accused of corruption that resulted to the to ongoing health crisis having a loud voice in the media while the ordinary citizens languishing in public hospitals are literally dumped to die amid shortage of drugs.

In conclusion, let me remind journalists that, the hundreds of emaSwati languishing in public hospitals cannot speak for themselves now and, we must be their voice.

In doing so, we are not doing them as favour, it’s our constitutional obligation as the media to be the voice of the voiceless.

As the media, we are not, in anyway, the voice of the corrupt, rich and politically connected, our mandate is to hold them accountable but while being fair in our reporting.

This country is being destroyed by corruption and the captured media is complicit.

It started with the outgoing Chairman of the Editors Forum and Swazi Observer Managing editor Mbongeni Mbingo who has since become a lawyer or Advocate of alleged corrupt political criminals who are behind the shortage of drugs in public hospitals.