• ALERT Date: December 16, 2008 Person/institutions: Journalists Violation/issue: Harassed and banned The media covering Swaziland’s traditional “Incwala” (or first fruits) traditional ceremony had it tough as journalists, both local and foreign, were harassed, banned and had their equipment confiscated. On December 12, Brian Mohammed, a journalist with the Times of Swaziland, was banned and kicked out of a royal residence where he had gone to cover the first day of the Incwala main event. A police officer, who gave no reasons for his actions, told Mohammed that he was not welcome to cover the event and ordered to leave. On December 13, a television crew from the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) also felt the brunt of the police harassment. They had their equipment confiscated by the police when they were caught filming the event. This was despite the crew having the necessary accreditation. Members of the SABC crew were quoted in the local media saying the police confiscated their equipment without giving any valid reason. It was not until the intervention of traditional authorities that the journalists were able to get their equipment back. But even then, they were told to stop covering the event. During the highlight of the festival on December 15, the situation deteriorated as a blanket ban on media coverage of the event was declared. Police officers refused to allow journalists to photograph the event. Those who attempted had their cameras confiscated. No reasons were given for the blanket ban. MISA Swaziland frowns at actions that violate the freedom of the press and plans to raise this with the relevant government and traditional authorities. • ALERT Date: December 29, 2008 Person: Ackel Zwane Violation/issue: Assaulted On December 26, Ackel Zwane, news editor of the private newspaper, the Swazi Observer, was attacked by a knife-wielding man who stabbed him once, claiming that the journalist wrote negatively about the man’s father, a well-known church bishop in Swaziland. Zwane was buying meat from a butchery on the outskirts of Manzini when his attacker charged violently at him. The journalist was punched three times in the face and cut above the ear. Zwane was pelted with stones as on-lookers helped him into a car in which he locked himself for safety. Zwane reported the matter to the police. The man later handed himself over to the police in the company of his father, Bishop of the Devine Healing Ministries, a popular church in Swaziland. The man was formally charged but not booked in. He appeared in court on December 29 where he was not allowed to plead and the case was postponed to March 2009. MISA Swaziland condemned the attack and has been giving support to Zwane. The chapter will follow this case closely. Zwane’s attacker is well-known for violent behaviour. Coincidentally, a few days after this incident, the man stabbed his police officer wife seven times and had to be arrested again. He is out on bail. So This Is Democracy? 2008 -99- Media Institute of Southern Africa