GOVERNMENT PRESS STATEMENT
GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO THE STAR ARTICLE PUBLISHED ON SEPTEMBER 19TH 2024 ON THE FREEDOM OF THE MEDIA IN ESWATINI
The Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini wishes to express displeasure at the inaccuracies of the article published by your highly esteemed newspaper on the 19th of September, 2024. To begin with, His Majesty the King does not pilot bills in our legislative process.
This is the responsibility of Cabinet Ministers and Parliament, where bills are openly debated and passed. Having said that, Government wishes to categorically state that there is currently no bill before Parliament that seeks to unduly regulate the media in Eswatini with a view to muzzle the press, as your article claims. Our government has consistently maintained one position on the matter of media regulation in Eswatini, and that is the media will have to come up with a self-regulatory mechanism—minus government involvement or dictation to the process. Government continues to impress and urge the media to stop procrastinating on this matter and urgently embark on this process. Without getting into the details of the fairy tales by the major source of your story, to the contrary of his claims, His Majesty King Mswati III has always been an advocate for the freedom of the media in Eswatini. He is one of a few Heads of State in the SADC region who always reports directly to the media on return from each state visit or international engagement.
The Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini takes this opportunity to assure everyone concerned that we are a country that subscribes to constitutionalism and upholds the rights and freedom of the press as they are enshrined in our national constitution, Section 24. The partnership that has been forged between the government and the free press in Eswatini shall continue to be advanced and protected.
Alpheous Nxumalo
Government Spokesperson - Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini
20TH SEPTEMBER 2024