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Media barred from covering incwala

14/12/2011 00:00:00 WELCOME DLAMINI

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MBABANE – For the first time in recent history, the local media was officially barred from covering the main day of the sacred annual Incwala Ceremony.

Print and electronic media editors were, on Monday, called to a meeting with Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Information Communications and Technology (ICT) Nathaniel Mahluza where he informed them of the ban.

Indeed, yesterday, which was the main Incwala Day, the media was not allowed to take pictures inside the cattle byre as is the norm.

The order, Mahluza told the editors, came from his principals but he did not divulge the identity of the principals.

However, what irked the editors the most was that the PS failed to tell them what the reason behind the ban was.

Also in attendance during the meeting was Martin Dlamini, the ministry’s Director of Information.

The editors were told that only Swazi TV, the national broadcaster, would be allowed to cover the event. No consideration was even given to the country’s only national radio station, the Swaziland Broadcasting and Information Services, and the Qhawe Mamba-owned Channel Swazi TV, which is considered pro-culture.

The meeting between the PS and editors took place at the ICT ministry offices and lasted over 45 minutes.

Accredited

Noteworthy is that the Ministry of ICT had last week called on the local media to submit names of journalists who would be accredited to cover the Incwala, which is a cultural event that marks the end of the year and eating of the first fruit.

The Incwala is one event that forms a big part of the country’s tourist attraction calendar with a large number of foreigners flocking to the kingdom to witness the event.

The foreign media was also not spared as the local editors were informed by Mahluza that the outside media would only get footage from Swazi TV. However, editors drew the PS’ attention that he was infringing on the rights of the journalists but that did not sway Mahluza. Times of Swaziland Managing Editor Mbongeni Mbingo said he personally questioned the PS’ instruction but his responses were vague.

"He told us that he will not change from what he had been instructed to tell us. He said no one would be accredited to cover the Incwala," Mbingo said.

The PS, in an interview last night, said he preferred not to discuss the issue any further because he had told the editors all that needed to be said.

"We spoke about this with the editors in a meeting. Write what I told the editors," Mahluza said.

Furious editors storm out of meeting as no reasons given

MBABANE – Editors on Monday stormed out of a meeting that was convened to ban the media from covering yesterday’s main day of the Incwala Ceremony.

The editors were reportedly angered by Principal Secretary in the Ministry of ICT Nathaniel Mahluza’s failure to give reasons for the ban.

Editors present during the meeting included those from the Times of Swaziland, Swazi TV, Channel Swazi, The Swazi Observer, Nation Magazine and Swaziland Broadcasting and Information Services.

"The meeting was a hectic one. There was a heated argument as the editors demanded answers from the PS. The PS was of no help except to tell them that he was told what to tell them. Tempers flared and the editors ended up storming out of the meeting," an impeccable source said.

The PS was expected to convene another meeting with the editors for later on Monday where he would have answered their questions.

"But he never convened the meeting. He left the editors in the dark. However they had made it clear to him that they objected to the ban," the source said.

Bad publicity has boosted incwala – Mtiti

MBABANE - Yesterday’s Incwala Ceremony attracted thousands of locals and foreigners, and government attributes this to the event’s recent bad publicity.

Acting Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs Mtiti Fakudze said what was said recently about the event had attracted more people.

"Those who criticise Incwala helped because they sensitised a lot of people about it. The criticism actually helped. Incwala represents us as Swazis. If you criticise it then you are marketing it," Fakudze said.

The minister said they were quite impressed with yesterday’s turnout and hoped the numbers would grow as the ceremony continues.

"The attendance was very good, considering the numbers of both domestic and foreign tourists. We believe more tourists will attend the event. The reports in the media have done nothing to stop people from bothering themselves about their culture," Fakudze, who is the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said.

Referring to quotes from former United States of America President George Bush, the minister added: "Bush said democracy takes into consideration the culture of every country. There would be no democracy without culture."

Comments

Tsine emaSwati, I mean real Swazis are happy that we were not misled by the dubious Swaziland Solidarity Network and the Shisa Mlilo drunken thugs that spread false rumors on Facebook. Most of these are not even real Swazis. All they are good at is insulting the monarch and government and one wonders how they really expect to run a country even if given a chance. How can any country have a government of insult spewers and marijuana smokers? Utsi lingakha lona? Lastly, anybody who is a true Swazi knows that the garbage spread about Incwala by these good for nothing elements is nothing but that. Garbage! Nilayekile. I hope you all get arrested and rot in prison. As for the media, it is well known that they are also part of Shisa Mlilo elements and that's exactly why they were banned. They must first respect the king then they can be allowed to cover cultural ceremonies.
Dec 14, 2011, 4:41 AM, Lobusika Dlamini

Why bar the media? Secrecy prompts curiosity, and curiosity triggers imagination and assumptions. Before we know it the barred media will be writing all sorts of things about our ceremony. Who are we going to blame then? It's better to let the media in and control what what is to be published. I'm also concerned about barring the others but allow Swazi TV coverage, its discrimination. How are we going to feel if Swazi TV was to be barred from covering foreign news? This is totally against the spirit of tourism we are promoting.
Dec 14, 2011, 4:41 AM, Concerned

Sometimes I really dont understand why you journalists keep pretending that you are angry. Even worse you choose to misdirect your pseudo anger. You know for a fact that the order came from the king yet you go on to force the PS to state reasons. You know for a fact that he was told not to give reasons but lo and behold you just want to show your misdirected anger. If you want to be really angry and show it you must direct it to the relevant person. Stop blaming people that are not to blame and direct the blame where it should be; and spare us of this useless lamenting. Its nauseating, really.
Dec 14, 2011, 4:41 AM, Mfundvo Ndzimandze (mfundvo.ndzimandze@gmail.com)

Banning the media without giving reasons leaves a lot to be desired. It shows that there are a lot of secret things done there. I'm sure even Swazi TV's movement was well monitored lest they video taped what is not meant for the public eye. If it's a national prayer to the ancestors, why so much secrecy? What about media freedom?
Dec 14, 2011, 11:59 AM, Lord Anthony (anthonym198@gmail.com)