Prince Mahlaba says journalists will die if...

The prince said this on Wednesday during a question-and-answer session with a journalist at the Smart Partnership Dialogue.

The prince said he had been monitoring what he believes are clandestine manoeuvres in the media that sought to undermine the country’s leadership and system of governance and said that for prolonged periods of time he has been silent, hoping that people would come to their senses and stop the wrong they were doing.

He said now that it was clear that some people seemed hell bent on destabilising the kingdom, there would be journalists that will die.

"It’s a fact that journalists earn their living by writing lies and if they do not write the lies then their source of livelihood is threatened and this is fact and beyond debate. My question, Your Majesty, will be in a form of a comment though. I want to warn the media to bury things that have the potential of undermining the country, rather than publish all and everything even when such reports are harmful to the country’s international image.

"Journalists who write bad things about the country will die," the prince said before sitting down to mixed feelings of laughter and surprise from the audience.

Mbongeni Mbingo, Managing Editor of the Times of Swaziland, then wondered aloud why journalists were now being threatened with death and made scapegoats of.

He wondered what was to be done to government officials who behaved and did things as though they had another country.

Meanwhile Prince Mangaliso, Chairman of the king’s advisory body, Liqoqo, wondered why the story of the man who allegedly slept with a dog was put on the front page. The prince said this was not good for the country’s image.

Mbingo said the question of what goes on the front page depended on the discretion of the newspaper editors. He said such discretion varies from newsroom to newsroom.

Alec Lushaba, the Weekend Observer editor, said they put the story on their front page because it was newsworthy and that it was because such things seldom happened and hence made for public interest.

The Times of Swaziland has not printed the story on its front page at any point.

Comments

That is Tinkhundla dialogue for you - Threatening of journalists. What a shame...what a pity...what a controversy!!!
July 23, 2010, 9:51 am, Yah (ya@yahoo.com)

This is not a day for punks, if you dont have anything to die for or fight for, then this is not your day.To all journalists, give us the truth do not fear Mahlaba, he will die too. Nothing lives forever.
July 23, 2010, 11:03 am, Bongani khumalo (bonganikhumalo@yahoo.com)

Prince Mahlaba you are a comedian. U ve just made my day..very funny.In short , "no comment".
July 23, 2010, 11:28 am, cenito (cenito_pinto@yahoo.com)

Imposter! Poser! Political Exhibitionist! Impressionist!Grandstander! Mahlaba the fortuneteller, the doomsayer. The man who can see beyond the ordinary eye! Mahlaba no one will live forever.Blaming journalists for a system that is in shambles is disingeous and divisive!Noone is immortal,irreplaceable,indispensable or immovable! This kind of lunacy does not warrant a response from the media irrespetive of the source!
July 23, 2010, 12:12 pm, velaphi dlamini (d.velaphi@yahoo.com)

Journalists should do their job without being feared by the prince, I hope all of us know the prince he is just like that, do you remember the day he stripped his regina on Ntuthuko's face at Mavuso Trade Centre, because he thought that it was his ministry which cut guava trees. The prince is a celeb
July 23, 2010, 12:13 pm, Sandile (sandile.nhlabatsi@gmail.com)

Wow!! What kind of a prince who talks like that? Sis i wish to see your kids, they are probably like you..In my opinion you are such an ignorant man and a disgrace to your country. You are now inciting violence to your own people..Guess what? they will turn back to you ,and they are aware that you were trying to look good. Come on Julius Malema think before you open your mouth..you need to change your statement!! I cant belive a prince can say that.. I am still shocked. I wonder what the elders are saying about you.
July 23, 2010, 12:15 pm, Zee Zee (thobelamelusi@yahoo.com)

 I think for someone who was jus talking about the country's public image, it is a bit of a shame that you threaten journalists because of what they write or rather report what does THIS do for the countrys public image?? Do we really want the world to think we live in country where journalists can't do their job. That is what journalists are for to give good and Bad news.I think if this was the case in all countries the the career of journalism would have been demolished or removed.. let them be, the world understands good and bad media.. leave JOURNALISTS alone please
July 23, 2010, 3:30 pm, Teps (tabooty100@hotmail.com)

Umtfwanenkhosi ukhuluma kabi. Ngobe kutawufa intsatseli tsine sitawucela asichazele kutsi yini kwenteke emva kwemagama akhe! Ths should be taken seriously by the ROYAL police force and viewed as a serious threat against certain journalists whom Mahlaba knows.. It is a known secret that our government falls short in terms of democracy becoz of the same traditionalist like bomahlaba who seek to run this country from behind the scenes.. We need multiparties not the tinkhundla debate that ke mtfwanenkhosi Mahlaba..
July 23, 2010, 3:35 pm, p33la (pilas88@yahoo.com)

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