RADIO BAN ON MPS UNCONSTITUTIONAL

LOBAMBA – The Public Announcement Regulations which in most instances have barred MPs from speaking on national radio and TV are against the national Constitution.

Manzini North MP Jan Sithole said the regulations were clearly against the freedom of speech and expression and therefore were in violation of the Constitution.

The MPs, during the debate of the budget performance for the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT), expressed concern that they were not allowed to speak on the national broadcasters.
Mafutseni MP Christopher Gamedze was the most bothered about the ban, stating that on January 17, 2014 a TV reporter had put it in black and white that he would not be granted an interview, but instead should get an ordinary member of the community to speak on his behalf.

“We are the drivers of the Tinkhundla system so why are we not allowed on electronic media to promote this?” he asked. Mangcongco MP Patrick ‘Pha’ Motsa said ministers were given limitless time to speak on radio and one could drive from as far as Bhunya to Manzini with one person talking.

LaMgabhi MP Sicelo Jele said they were not allowed to make announcements on matters involving their constituents and asked why there was no freedom of expression.   

ICT Minister Dumisani Ndlangamandla said if MPs wanted to make announcements on radio they had to get stamps from their chiefs because many meetings had been called by communities without the elders’ knowledge.

However, Sithole insisted that this was a violation of the Constitution which was the Supreme Law of the land.    

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