‘ZWEMART’ LAW UNTO HIMSELF – ACTING PM

MBABANE – “Zweli Martin Dlamini is a law unto himself.”

This has been said by Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku in an application that the Government of Eswatini filed in the High Court of South Africa, Mpumalanga Division, Mbombela on May 7, 2021. Government is seeking an order directing Zweli, the editor of Swaziland News, that seven days before publishing any article which is prima facie defamatory and/or critical of government, the King, a minister or public servant or member of the royal family, to provide written content of the material and a list of questions related to the proposed publication in order for government to comment on it. Zweli is to provide the written content through Government Press Secretary Sabelo Dlamini and Thabile Mdluli.  

Ethics

The Eswatini Government also wants Zweli to be ordered to publish any comment furnished by the State in conjunction with any article published by Swaziland News and concerning the head of State, a minister or public servant or member of the royal family in any way and in accordance with, what is expected of a reasonable journalist and or news publication as provided for in the South African Press Council Code of Ethics. Government also prayed that the respondents (Swaziland News, Zweli and Avulekha Amazulu (Pty) Ltd) be ordered to pay costs of the application. The acting PM deposed to the founding affidavit. Government is represented by Brian Kahn Inc. Masuku told the High Court of South Africa that government had been monitoring and reading various articles published in the online publication, Swaziland News, which is hosted by Avulekha Amazulu. The articles, according to Masuku, are written by the exiled Zweli.

He said the articles written by Zweli referred to the head of State of Eswatini, members of the royal family, various ministers and/or public officers, government and Members of Parliament (MPs). He told the court that it was apparent from the content of the articles themselves that Zweli and Swaziland News allegedly habitually and consistently made harmful derogatory allegations against government, ministers, various officials, the head of State and royal family members in order to undermine the legitimate purpose, authority and decisions of government or the King and to lower their general standing in the public’s eye. “Swaziland News and ZM Dlamini have, on an ongoing basis, published articles that are false, defamatory, unsubstantiated and caused reputational harm to the applicants (government) and to the parties referred to in the articles,” submitted Masuku. He attached to the court papers nine articles that were published by Swaziland News to enhance government’s case.

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