Category Archives: Alert

Defamation Pay Day: Swazi politician wins biggest defamation case in kingdom’s history

MISA-Swaziland | Media Alert December 8, 2014 Senate President Gelane Simelane-Zwane has won E550,000 ($50,000) in a controversial defamation case against the country’s only privately-owned daily newspaper, reports local media. Simelane-Zwane, who is also acting chief of KoNtshingila, sued the Times of Swaziland over an article it published about Simelane-Zwane’s birth name. The article inContinue reading “Defamation Pay Day: Swazi politician wins biggest defamation case in kingdom’s history”

Swazi journalist to spend Christmas in jail after judge denies bail‏

MISA-Swaziland | Media Alert December 6 2014 Respected journalist Bheki Makhubu was refused bail by controversial judge Mpendulo Simelane at Swaziland’s High Court on December 5 2014. “I find that the applicant has woefully failed to convincingly establish the requisite exceptional circumstances to warrant his release on bail pending appeal,” said Simelane reading his rulingContinue reading “Swazi journalist to spend Christmas in jail after judge denies bail‏”

Commonwealth Parliamentary Association boots media from meeting on ‘parliament and the media’

MISA-Swaziland | Media Alert September 4 2014 Local media in Swaziland has reported that The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) kicked out journalists from a post elections seminar that was being held yesterday in the town of Ezulweni. The CPA is an organisation of British origin that works to support good governance, democracy and human rights.Continue reading “Commonwealth Parliamentary Association boots media from meeting on ‘parliament and the media’”

Swazi govt maintains tight grip on national broadcasters

MISA-Swaziland | Media AlertAugust 26 2014 Swaziland minister for information, communication and technology Dumisani Ndlangamandla said the national TV and radio stations are primarily there to serve the interests of the state, reported daily newspaper Times of Swaziland last week.  The national television station, Swazi TV, and the national radio station, SBIS, are both controlled byContinue reading “Swazi govt maintains tight grip on national broadcasters”

Swazi Editor tells SA media to stop distorting Swazi stories, reports Times of Swaziland

MISA Swaziland | Media AlertAugust 22 2014 The Times of Swaziland has reported that the South African media should stop distorting stories about the kingdom. “Chairman of the Swaziland National Editors Forum Mbongeni Mbingo has appealed to the South African media to desist from distorting news stories that were initially broken by journalists in Swaziland,”Continue reading “Swazi Editor tells SA media to stop distorting Swazi stories, reports Times of Swaziland”

Swazi chief justice Michael Ramodibedi blasts media – Times of Swaziland

MISA-Swaziland | Media AlertAugust 20 2014 “The office of the chief justice takes this opportunity to warn the media from commenting adversely on cases pending in court,” said a statement issued by the CJ’s office, according to the Times of Swaziland. The statement continues: “Thus, for example, one publication scandalously referred to the chief justice’sContinue reading “Swazi chief justice Michael Ramodibedi blasts media – Times of Swaziland”

Respected Swazi journalist Bheki Makhubu files appeal against 2 year jail term for criminal contempt of court conviction

MISA-Swaziland | Media Alert August 18 2014 In the appeal papers, according to local media, lawyers for Makhubu say judge Mpendulo Simelane erred on several matters when convicting the editor of The Nation magazine. The appeal, according to the Sunday Observer, also touches on the silencing of critical voices in the kingdom as well asContinue reading “Respected Swazi journalist Bheki Makhubu files appeal against 2 year jail term for criminal contempt of court conviction”

Swazi prime minister tells MPs ‘to strangle union leaders when they return from the US’, reports local media

MISA-Swaziland | Media Alert August 7 2014 “Prime Minister Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini has called for the strangulation of workers union leaders who went to Washington under the pretext of going to save AGOA,” reports the Times of Swaziland. Click here to read the full report The competing daily Swazi Observer also reported on the matter however saidContinue reading “Swazi prime minister tells MPs ‘to strangle union leaders when they return from the US’, reports local media”