WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO HIDE?

Last Friday, the media was kicked out of Senate chambers during a consultative meeting when Senator Moi Moi Masilela started criticising the Decentralisation Bill that is being proposed by the Ministry of Tinkhundla Administration and Development.

The minister insisted the media leave the meeting, despite the chairperson of the proceedings questioning this directive. The minister had his way and we ask why? What is it about this Bill that the minister does not want the public to know, particularly if it is intended to bring government services closer to the people? Just before the media was kicked out, some of the senators warned the minister to consult extensively as ‘the ministry cannot afford to make the same mistake of passing laws which will cause more cracks and division in the country’. Precisely, and transparency is key for such a process.

responsibility

We need not remind the minister that Parliament has a responsibility to carry out an oversight role in scrutinising the work of government and its use of taxpayers’ funds by questioning and probing its decisions. Likewise, the media plays a watchdog role on the three arms of government, to keep them in check and see to it that they are executing their mandates effectively and serving the best interests of the public. When the media is barred from listening in on a parliamentary debate at the whim of an individual, the act borders on suppression of information, which is a violation of media rights and, by extension, a denial of people’s right to know.

Section 24, subsection 2, of the Constitution clearly spells out that a person shall not, except with the consent of that person, be hindered in the enjoyment of freedom of expression, which includes freedom of the press and other media to (b) receive ideas and information without hindrance and (c) communicate ideas and information without interference, whether that information be to the public generally or to any person or class of persons. The Decentralisation Bill is a piece of draft legislation that, if passed into law, will impact the lives of emaSwati in one way or another, and the minister will be using taxpayers’ money to do so.

deprived

As it stands, the public has been deprived of some of the submissions made by the senators, which could be information we all need to know in order to make an informed decision about what the Bill proposes. We can find no reason justifying the ejection of the media from the Senate chambers during this public debate, other than to protect the minister from harsh criticism or embarrassment. If not, then he should tell the public all that the senators had to say about this Bill and further apologise for what clearly seems like bullying the media and the public it serves.

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