· ALERT Date: October 16, 2005 Persons/Institutions: Douglas Dlamini Violation: Beaten On October 16 2005, “Times of Swaziland” sports journalist Douglas Dlamini was assaulted by a soccer player for publishing a court report in which the player was charged with drinking and driving. · ALERT Date: September 17, 2005 Persons/Institutions: Alec Lushaba, Wilton Mamba Violation: Threatened Alec Lushaba, a senior journalist with the “Swazi Observer” newspaper, has been the victim of continued threats and intimidation as a result of his ongoing investigation and series of articles about a top lawyer Lindifa Mamba’s involvement in a corruption scandal. Mamba also summoned Lushaba and “Weekend Observer” editor Wilton Mamba to his office on September 16, where he subjected them to verbal abuse. When the two journalists tried to explain the importance of his comment, Mamba went into a fit of rage and threw them out of his office, but not before he threatened to deal with Lushaba personally. · ALERT Date: September 16, 2005 Persons/Institutions: Media in Swaziland Violation: Threatened On September 16 2005, Prime Minister Absalom Themba Dlamini accused the media of sensationalism and false reporting, sounding a warning that the government would be forced to “monitor” the press if it did not desist from such practices. · ALERT Date: August 19, 2005 Persons/Institutions: Times of Swaziland Sunday Violation: Censored On August 19 2005, the “Times of Swaziland Sunday” was interdicted from publishing a story which was found to be defamatory by the High Court. The newspaper has appealed the ruling. Myzo Magagula, chief executive officer of the state-owned “Swazi Observer” newspaper, had brought the application in her personal capacity. She argued in court that the story, which was yet to be published by the “Times of Swaziland Sunday”, was defamatory. · ALERT Date: July 29, 2005 Persons/Institutions: Times of Swaziland Violation: Sentenced On July 29 2005, Deputy Prime Minister Albert Shabangu won a staggering E750 000 (approx. US$116,000) in damages in a defamation suit against the “Times of Swaziland” newspaper, following a High Court ruling. The judgment is historical in terms of a settlement amount awarded in Swaziland. The alleged defamatory article was written by the late “Times Sunday” editor Vusi Ginindza four years ago. The deputy prime minister was alleged defamed and his reputation tarnished when the article inferred that he was a card-carrying member of the Ngwane National Liberator Congress (NNLC), a proscribed party in Swaziland as political parties were banned by a 1973 decree. The incident has had a chilling effect on press freedom in Swaziland. Among others, media So This Is Democracy? 2005 -115- Media Institute of Southern Africa