GOVT NOT AWARE OF ‘FACTS ONLY’ PLATFORM

MBABANE – A communications platform that supposedly seeks to clarify misconceptions and untruths about government has been developed.

We deliver #factsonly and you can be the judge is the slogan of Eswatini Fact Check, which is a recently developed media or communications application or platform introduced with the aim of informing the public through distributing what they term as ‘facts only’ relating to government. The developers or people behind this initiative are yet to be revealed as there is no clear indication as to who is behind this project as of yet. The social media platform or website presented the initiative as a team of independent fact checkers and campaigners, who find, expose and counter misinformation and the harm it does.

When reached for comment, Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology Principal Secretary (PS) Maxwell Masuku stated that he had not yet received any information on this development; however, he would consult with parastatals under the ministry to ascertain whether it was indeed a project developed by any of the entities. The Deputy Government Spokesperson, Thabile Mdluli, was also reached for comment, to which she said government was not aware of the initiative, however, they could only hope that they were indeed reporting facts.

Affiliated

The duo’s comments was sought to ascertain whether this fact check platform was in any way affiliated with government. On their latest post on social media platform Twitter, the administration introduced a segment called #CountingTheCost of the political unrest, where they shared that out of 337 offenders who were apprehended during the unrest, 263 were males, 67 were females and seven were juveniles. They also claimed that of the 337 arrested people, 187 were released on bail while 146 were convicted. According to the fact checkers, as of December  2021, 34 people who were apprehended for incidents which occurred during the political unrest, remained in custody. “By the numbers, our independent fact checkers are working to uncover the full impact of what transpired,” stated the administration.

It is further articulated in vernacular that; “Ngalesinye sikhatsi kulukhuni kwati kutsi yini lokuliciniso nalokungemanga. Sitakuhlutela tindzaba sikuletsele emaciniso odvwa,” which can be translated to mean; “In most cases it is difficult to discern fact from fiction, therefore we have taken it upon ourselves to present nothing but facts in order to bring clarity.” With a video introducing what the platform will be about, the administrators responsible for the content stated that sometimes it was hard to know what to believe. Therefore, they had made it their mission to investigate and present the public with facts only. “As the year ends, our team of independent fact-checkers reflect on 2021 and the impact of events that transpired,” it stated.

Video

In the video posted on their Twitter page, the team introduces the #CountingTheCost programme, where it is stated that the fact-checkers will be placing 2021 into perspective by assessing the economic impact, tracking the loss of lives and livelihoods, investigating what really happened and setting the record straight. It is further stated that Eswatini Fact Check will interrogate these and other issues, with a closing line saying “We deliver #factsonly and you can be the judge.” In September this year, it was reported on various publications locally and internationally, that public relations firm Vuma Reputation Management had cut ties with its client, the Eswatini Government.

It was reported that the firm’s mandate from government, was to position the country to attract foreign direct investment. However, at the time, the firm could not meet the mandate to position Eswatini as an attractive investment destination to assist in growing its economy. “After several weeks of internal and external consultation, we have made the decision to resign the account,” read a statement from the firm. Vuma Reputation Management was hired by government through a process that was overseen by the former and late Prime Minister, Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini, to market Eswatini.

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