THE WISE SWAZI: CLOSING THE GAP OF GUTTER JOURNALISM IN ESWATINI
In a country where the media space is either dominated by sunshine journalism that fawns over the establishment, or by sensational outlets that mistake scandal for substance, one voice has emerged as a refreshing departure from the noise.
That voice is The Wise Swazi, a blog and vlog run by Bhekithema Dlamini. Through The Wise Swazi, Dlamini has positioned himself not as a cheerleader of power, nor as a gossip merchant chasing clicks, but as a citizen journalist deeply committed to intellectual rigour and serious engagement with the socioeconomic realities of Eswatini.
He has carved out a rare and necessary space for discursive analysis, one that stands in sharp contrast to the froth and fury that too often define the kingdom’s media landscape.
This is how Dlamini introduces himself on his platform: “As a citizen journalist, I am dedicated to shedding light on the socioeconomic issues facing Eswatini, from economic disparities and access to education to healthcare challenges and community development. Through my blog, I aim to amplify voices often unheard, foster informed dialogue, and contribute to positive change in our society. Join me as we explore the stories that matter most to the people of Eswatini.”
Unlike the many self-proclaimed journalists who flood timelines with insults, hyperbole, and tabloid-level grandstanding—where the author becomes the story, the voice, and the spectacle—Dlamini insists on substance. He refuses the lure of outrage for outrage’s sake.
His writing is sober but piercing, measured yet uncompromising. He treats eSwatini’s challenges not as opportunities to inflame, but as urgent realities that demand thought, dialogue, and solutions. It is this discipline that has begun to draw thinkers, activists, and citizens serious about development to The Wise Swazi.
Increasingly, people who wish to understand the kingdom’s challenges beyond the shallow binaries of “pro” or “anti” regime are turning to Dlamini’s blog as a reference point. In his work, they find nuance, a commodity painfully absent in much of the current Swazi media ecosystem. For example, when Dlamini writes about economic inequality, he does not settle for repeating statistics. He contextualises them within Eswatini’s historical and structural realities, showing how colonial legacies, state capture, and policy failures intersect to create the present crisis.
When he engages healthcare, he goes beyond lamenting poor facilities, instead interrogating the political choices, corruption, and social disparities that have left hospitals in disrepair. His analysis of education is not framed as a slogan, but as a layered exploration of how access, quality, and governance combine to entrench cycles of poverty.
In tone, professionalism, and language, Dlamini’s blog is galaxies apart from the many Facebook pages that parade as news platforms, or from the brand of “alternative media” that thrives on personality cults, gossip and unverified claims. Where others chase clout, he chases clarity. Where others peddle anger, he cultivates understanding.
eSwatini is a society in desperate need of intellectual honesty. It is a nation where those in power thrive on shallow praise, while the disillusioned often retreat into shallow condemnation. In between, there exists a hunger for something deeper—a voice that neither flatters nor sensationalises, but interrogates with courage and care.
Bhekithema Dlamini has stepped into that gap. The Wise Swazi may not yet have the reach of mainstream outlets, but it already has what most lack: credibility, seriousness, and a respect for readers. And in a society starved of thoughtful journalism, that is not just refreshing—it is revolutionary.
NB: Read Dlamini's work here: https://thewiseswazi.wordpress.com/about/