IRRELEVANT VOICES ON PRESS FREEDOM

Concerning the recent matter on the Prime Minister and The Nation magazine editor’s, the voices of Walter Bennett and Prince Mbuyisa have surfaced in the Sunday Observer, amid a critical discussion on press freedom, accountability, and government transparency

Yet, their remarks on the confrontation between Prime Minister Dlamini and Editor Bheki Makhubu raise serious questions about their relevance, authority, and the weight their opinions should carry on matters as important as freedom of expression and media independence.

Who is Walter Bennett?

Walter Bennett is known as a businessman in Mbabane, but his career trajectory hardly qualifies him as a serious commentator on issues concerning the ethical responsibilities of the press or constitutional freedoms. Though he may have found influence in business and some community circles, his commentary about journalists needing to demonstrate commitment to ethics seems less about fostering constructive discourse and more about attempting to insert himself into a national debate that requires far more nuanced understanding than he offers. Bennett's former senator status and business background does not inherently qualify him to speak authoritatively on press ethics, and one must question why his remarks are entertained at a time when Eswatini’s press freedoms are facing serious challenges from government figures.

Who is Prince Mbuyisa?

Prince Mbuyisa, an ex-convict and member of the Land Management Board, has injected himself into the conversation with a bold assertion that Bheki Makhubu’s family and the Editors' Forum should apologize to the King. The fact that Mbuyisa—a person with a criminal record—feels entitled to call for such an apology on behalf of the monarchy is puzzling and concerning. His position on the Land Management Board is a far cry from any role that gives him credibility in matters of press freedom or constitutional law. The suggestion that a prince, who holds no legal or governmental mandate in this context, can demand an apology for a journalist exercising their right to freedom of expression reflects a disturbing trend of individuals using their social status to influence public opinion on issues where they lack both competence and jurisdiction.

Are they worth being entertained?

The real issue here is why figures like Bennett and Prince Mbuyisa are even being afforded the platform to comment on such a sensitive and constitutionally significant matter. Their public interventions on this issue seem less about contributing to a serious national debate and more about self-serving attempts to gain relevance in a conversation that surpasses their credentials. By entertaining such voices, the country risks trivializing the very real and serious issue of press freedom, allowing distractions from the core issue—the Prime Minister’s reaction to media scrutiny and the broader question of government transparency.

Our constitution guarantees freedom of expression, and by extension, freedom of the press. Bheki Makhubu’s confrontation with Prime Minister Dlamini was not just a personal exchange; it was a pivotal moment in the nation’s struggle to hold its government accountable. For Prince Mbuyisa to call for an apology to the King is not only absurd but dangerously undermines the role of the media as the fourth estate. The media’s job is to question, and hold those in power accountable on behalf of the public. Mbuyisa’s call ignores this fundamental principle, showing a profound lack of understanding of democratic processes and media rights.

If the Land Management Board sent Prince Mbuyisa to make these statements, it raises further questions about the role of public institutions in the suppression of free speech. However, it is more likely that Mbuyisa is speaking as an individual, albeit cloaked in the misplaced authority of his royal lineage, which makes his statements all the more inappropriate and out of place in a constitutional democracy.

As a nation, we must critically evaluate why individuals without clear authority or relevant expertise are allowed to comment on matters of national importance. The presence of figures like Bennett and Mbuyisa in such debates does nothing to enhance the quality of public discourse; instead, it detracts from the seriousness of the issues at hand. The nation must recognize that freedom of expression and press freedom are cornerstones of a functioning democracy. The opinions of those like Bennett and Mbuyisa should not be given undue weight. Let the real conversation be about the government's accountability to its people and the media's right to hold them to that standard, without fear of retribution or calls for absurd apologies.

It is time the nation stopped entertaining every Tom, Dick, and Harry who seeks to undermine the core tenets of our democracy with baseless, opportunistic statements. The focus must remain on protecting the rights enshrined in the constitution and ensuring that the press remains a free and independent voice for the people.

Let us not shift the focus from the real issues

In a time where the media’s role is more crucial than ever, there is a dangerous tendency to hand a microphone to anyone with an opinion, even if they have no grasp of the issue at hand. This reckless approach does nothing but cloud the conversation, shifting focus from the substance to the spectacle.

A prime example is the recent confrontation between The Nation magazine editor Bheki Makhubu and Prime Minister Cleopas Dlamini. While the urge to dissect Makhubu’s tone or accuse him of disrespect may be tempting, let us not miss the forest for the trees: the real issue here is the Prime Minister's fixation on sunshine journalism—a vision where the press acts as the government’s cheerleader rather than its watchdog.

Makhubu’s outburst, while perhaps unconventional, serves as a form of protest against the failures of leadership, from education to health care and beyond. By placing these issues at the forefront, the media can better hold leaders accountable for the systemic failures, rather than allowing red herrings to dominate the conversation.

Makhubu's so-called “outbursts” are not what we should be debating. Nor should the focus be on whether politicians deserve polite deference. What is at stake is the integrity of the press. Makhubu, like many in the media, is pushing back against a leader who seems to believe that journalists should be mouthpieces for state propaganda. The media’s role is to challenge, question, and hold power accountable—not to give in to red herrings that conveniently shift attention away from government failure.

Perhaps what we are witnessing is a symptom of the Tinkhundla system’s inherent weakness. When even the slightest pushback is seen as the sky falling, it speaks to a leadership coddled by a political system that does not train its politicians in the unforgiving arena of competitive politics. We have ended up with a government that demands respect rather than earning it. The confrontation between Makhubu and the Prime Minister is not just a clash of personalities; it is a reflection of a larger problem. This government does not just want to be respected—it expects it by default.

But let us face facts: this government has done little to deserve respect. For the collapse of our healthcare system, the destruction of our education system, the rampant exploitation of workers at Matsapha, and the unchecked spread of corruption, they deserve more than raised voices. For leaving us embarrassed without a national stadium, for overseeing the disintegration of UNESWA, and for making no real effort to create jobs for the country’s disillusioned youth, the people in power deserve nothing less than full-scale accountability.

Makhubu’s response is just the beginning. While it is important never to degenerate into insults or name-calling, the media must now focus on the real conversation: the struggle for a free press and a government that serves its people, not the other way around. In fact PM is lucky ukhala ngekutsetsiswa for us we think the government deserves kulaliswa phansi kwehliswe libhuluko kubhenswe kakhulu letibunu.