GOVT WARNS PERPETRATORS OF FAKE NEWS

MBABANE – Stop with the fake news.  

Government has noted with concern allegedly malicious disinformation circulating mostly on digital media platforms about the country following the riots that ensued around the country last week. According to a press statement issued yesterday by Government Spokesperson Sabelo Dlamini, there was disinformation which was clearly intended to tarnish the image of the country. Dlamini said the disinformation was meant to mislead the susceptible audiences that government was fighting citizens with no consideration for the concerns and safety of people. “At a time when the country is working tirelessly to restore peace and stability, some people have abused their access to digital platforms to manipulate information to suit their narrative,” said Dlamini.
He said recently, there had been a barrage of graphics, videos and articles circulating on social media platforms purporting that government had issued an order to kill innocent civilians. “This cannot be further from the truth. No order has been issued to kill citizens. Security forces are deployed to maintain law and order and protect the lives and property of emaSwati after a violent week,” said Dlamini.  Citing examples of the fake news, Dlamini said a viral video of a police officer purportedly shooting indiscriminately at citizens along the Mbabane-Manzini Highway was one of the many used to push the narrative that security forces were trigger-happy.

Clarify

“We wish to clarify that the police were escorting private cars that were using the highway, which had been blocked by criminals with rocks, guardrails and burning tyres,” narrated Dlamini. He said the police had to disperse the criminals blocking the highway in order to make way for motorists to drive through safely. Dlamini said no one was injured or killed from this operation. Another example of fake news cited by government was that of an image of a member of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) lying on the road and purported to have been killed by civilians had also been circulating on social media. “We wish to clarify that the soldier was not shot by citizens, but was involved in a car accident near Mahhala. He is stable and recovering from the injuries he sustained in the car accident,” said Dlamini.  

He further stated that there were allegations that Eswatini police had detained and harassed two journalists who were in the country to cover the unrest. “Government wishes to make it clear that no journalist is detained in the country. We can confirm that two journalists were taken in for questioning at Sigodvweni Police Station after they were found recording videos and taking pictures,” said Dlamini. He said they were released unharmed when their identity was determined and advised about the accreditation process they had to follow if they wanted to work in the country as journalists, as per global standard procedures. Government has warned the alleged perpetuators of these fake news to desist from doing so.

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