PM WARNS MEDIA

Times Of Swaziland Managing Editor Martin Dlamini flanked by Alec Lushaba and Oscar Mabusela. (Pics: Mduduzi Mngomezulu)

EZULWINI – Prime Minister Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini has warned the media not to touch matters that are before courts.

The premier said although he sympathises with the incarcerated Nation Magazine Editor Bheki Makhubu, the media knows better than to report on matters that are sub judice.

The PM told editors that it was in the basics of Swazi journalist that one did not comment on a matter that was still pending before the courts.
The PM was speaking during a breakfast meeting with the Swaziland Editors Forum held at Sibane Hotel yesterday.
“You all went to journalism school and I am sure that you remember that one only reports on what happens in court and not write a comment on a matter that is still pending,” said Dlamini.

He said although it was sad when anyone was committed to jail, it did not mean that nothing had gone wrong in the process. He advised editors to go and revise on their notes on court reporting. Dlamini said there were different laws which applied to each and every country and Swaziland had its own unique laws.

“It is know that you do not comment on an issue until it is out of the courts,” stated Dlamini.
The premier was responding to a question posed by Swazi News Editor Phephisa Khoza who wanted to know if the PM could assure the media that Swaziland still respected press freedom. Dlamini said freedom of the press was respected by government but this did not mean that the media could report all that it chooses to report.

Respect

“Where for example it fails to respect the right of the Judiciary to proceed uncriticised while a case is sub judice the media will be brought to book,” said the premier.
The PM said the media should take care to observe best practice in accordance with the principles espoused by its profession.
“If one examines all the press reports over the past years it will be observed that the media is allowed a great deal of latitude in its reporting. I think the words ‘honest, legal and fair’ capture the ethos of what the press should strive for,” said Dlamini. He said when editors say he (PM) accepts criticism they should rightly qualify that by adding ‘where criticism is justified’.

He said an individual had the right to criticise but where it was not justified he would object.
“On the other hand, while government does not interfere with the individual’s right to criticise, there are certain situations where it is not legally permissible for the media to express criticism, such as criticism of an individual member of the Judiciary and while the respective case is sub judice,” said the PM.

The recent arrest and sentencing of Human Rights Lawyer Thulani Maseko and The Nation Magazine Editor Makhubu have received wide media coverage locally and internationally. The reactions after the sentence have been to the effect that the two had been unfairly treated with governments like the United States of America stating clearly that the sentences were harsh. The European Union also joined in to state its disapproval of the sentences.

Public must accept judges

EZULWINI – The public must accept judges who have already been appointed into office.

This was said by the Prime Minister Sibusiso Dlamini during yesterday’s monthly breakfast meeting with the Swaziland Editors Forum.
Dlamini was responding to a question posed by Swazi Mirror Managing Editor Charles Matsebula who asked the PM if he was aware of the public outcry on the appointment of judges particularly because the posts were not advertised.

Matsebula asked Dlamini who was responsible for correcting the ills of the Judiciary as there was seemingly no transparency in the appointment of judges. “Judges are appointed by the Judicial Service Commission who are Swazis and human and I trust that they will acknowledge that the public is concerned about the manner in which judges are appointed,” he said.

The PM said, however, the public should accept the judges who had already been appointed and their positions legitimised through gazettes.

Justice minister on sick leave

EZULWINI – Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Sibusiso Shongwe is on sick leave.
This was said by the Prime Minister Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini yesterday morning.

The PM had been asked by Times SUNDAY Editor Innocent Maphalala if Shongwe’s absence had anything to do with the fact that Cabinet had withdrawn a policy statement he had made on property rights of spouses.
“We received a sick note from the minister’s doctor confirming that he was not feeling well on Tuesday and that is the reason he is not here,” said Dlamini.

He said what the gathering could do was pray for the minister to get better.
The PM said although Shongwe had faltered when he came up with the policy by not consulting Cabinet, he had good intentions.
Dlamini said in fact, what the minister had done was to remind government, the media and  the rest of the nation that there were laws which needed to be reviewed in order for them to be aligned with the Constitution.

“Although the minister had cited Section 75 of the Constitution which gives him power to address issues of policy, he over looked the section which states that this should be done by Parliament and since we are all new he may have unknowingly erred,” said Dlamini in response to another question from Alec Lushaba who wanted to know whether policies were not made in Cabinet.

“Abesebenta atsi uyentisisa, but we will not then turn our backs to him,” said the PM.
On the same vein, the PM informed the editors that it was important that every Cabinet member worked in a collective manner.
“The basic tenant of every government is that you do not just do your own thing, you report to your colleagues and do not do anything off the cuff,” Dlamini said.

He said as ministers they all spoke in one voice and said they thrashed out issues sometimes as late as 9pm in order for all to reach a consensus.
“We must all speak the same language and we informed the Justice minister of such, but he is still a part us and the only reason he is not here is because he is sick,” said Dlamini.

Dlamini further said the comment made by ICT Minister Dumisani Ndlangamandla that Americans were ‘bullies’ was not one made on behalf of government and it was not a view shared by government.

“We are on friendly terms with the United States and intend to keep it that way. The Americans themselves are mature enough to deal with comments such as the one made by the minister,” said Dlamini.

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