Swaziland has no freedom of expression
This is according to a survey conducted by Afrobarometer. What is surprising is that all evidence points to the fact that Swaziland has no press freedom at all.
The Swaziland Solidarity Network [SSN] was surprised to learn that a quarter of Swazis believe that they are free to say whatever they want. This is according to a survey conducted by Afrobarometer. What is surprising is that all evidence points to the fact that Swaziland has no press freedom at all and that the 24% recorded in the survey is extremely high for Swaziland.
To place this in context one has to highlight the lack of any form of freedom in Swaziland, from freedom of assembly to freedom of expression. A government that bans political parties breaks up prayer meetings and does not allow protests, amongst other things, naturally does not allow press freedom. ROYAL CONTROLLED MEDIA If truth be told Swaziland does not have any independent
media.
The only media outlet that is independently owned, the Times of Swaziland, is actually run by King Mswati’s speech writer and media deployee, Martin Dlamini, and it is his royal duty to censor the newspaper from articles which may be viewed to be critical of King Mswati.
The censorship at the Times of Swaziland is so extensive that the newspaper is at times viewed to be more conservative than the Swazi Observer, a newspaper effectively owned by the king and established by his father, King Sobhuza lll. All other forms of media, especially electronic media, is owned and run by the state and those broadcast zero criticism of royalty and the government.
The censorship in electronic media is so extreme that even members of the cabinet are at times not allowed to make statements through the radio or television.
NO FREE MEDIA
Swaziland therefore has no free media at all as clearly even those who are loyal to the Royal family have been barred from expressing their views in the media when and if it is critical of certain sectors of the government that are close to the king, such as the unpopular Prime Minister, Sibusiso Dlamini.
The SSN is therefore questioning the validity of the results of the survey conducted by Afrobarometer as they do not mirror the reality of life in Swaziland.
