HOW THE WORLD SEES KINGDOM OF ESWATINI NOW

MBABANE –  Despite network connectivity shutdown in the country, the world major media outlets covered Eswatini’s civil unrest.

These are CNN, BBC Al Jazeera, Bloomberg, Reuters, New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today and many others in France, particularly France24 and some parts of Europe. There was also interest from Fox5 in Las Vagas, a city that is known for entertainment, gambling and fun. NewsGoogle and Yahoo News also had a share of coverage, so were South Africa’s SABC, eTV and Newzroom Afrika. Their main story was on the deaths of protesters and rebuffed reports that His Majesty the King fled the country amid protests for democratic reforms. They quoted acting Prime Minister (PM) Themba Masuku as having refuted the assertion that the King was not in the country. BBC headlined its story on the country’s political unrest in this way: “King Maswati (Mswati) not fled Eswatini’s violent protests – PM.” Fox5 in Las Vegas reported: “Pro-democracy protests continue to rock Eswatini Kingdom.”

clashes

In its broadcast, BBC reported that Eswatini’s prime minister denied that King Mswati III fled to South Africa following clashes between the security forces and demonstrators. It said pro-democracy protests intensified overnight in the country, formerly known as Swaziland, with government buildings, shops and trucks set alight. However, they got it wrong when they reported that His Majesty the King rules by decree. Since the passing of the Constitution in 2005 and couple of years, the King has not issued a decree. It was not easy for them to get accurate information on the country’s events because of the network challenges, said an unnamed media observer. On the other hand, CNN said protests started a week ago in the kingdom as young people took to the streets to demand rights to vote and constitutional reforms.

Vuyisile Hlatshwayo, the co-founder of Ihlase Centre for Investigative Journalism, said it would be very unfair of anyone to blame inaccurate reporting caused by internet disconnects. He said journalists, in particular, could not use emails, Facebook and WhatsApp to verify information. Hlatshwayo said there were instances when it was complicated to conduct research through Google because people had no access to information. The veteran journalist said reporters resorted to other means of getting information, using their discretion on whether what they had was accurate or not. He pitied the absence of the Access to Information legislation in Eswatini, which they could enforce in pursuit for the release of material that is in the public’s interest.  
The merits and demerits of internet disconnects as a result of the violent protests cannot be published as there is an ongoing case regarding this issue. Meanwhile, the Atlanta headquartered cable network said protests escalated following the death of one of the protesters amid accusations of brutality from security forces, according to the Economic Freedom Fighters Swaziland group.

CNN said political parties remain banned in the country of around 1.2 million people, which was formerly known as Swaziland. Retail outlets and other buildings have been set ablaze in Matsapha, a town in central Eswatini, according to local media reports, and videos posted on social media. South Africa media outlet, News24, reported on 40 and 60 deaths while IOL talked about 21. It must be said that protesters damaged property in Mbabane, Manzini, Nhlangano, Pigg’s Peak, Matsapha and peri-urban areas. Actually, shops were looted and others were set ablaze, with a shopping complex in Nhlangano and Buy Cash Hardware in Pigg’s Peak almost reduced to ashes.

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