the king’s delegation. The mere fact that the Times of Swaziland managing editor, a leading private publication, is found writing stories for the Swazi Observer, a royalist publication, is cause for serious reflection. His position is untenable. How can he discharge his unbiased editorial duty when he would appear to be beholden to the authorities? Taking their cue from leaders, members of the public have continued to attack and harass media practitioners in their line of duty. The 2012 victims were a reporter and photojournalist from the Times of Swaziland Group of Newspapers. Four men at eNkhaba area attacked Swazi News journalist, Sabelo Masimula, when he tried to balance a story of a widow who ran away when her in-laws tried to forcefully remove her weeds. A colleague Walter Dlamini, a Times of Swaziland Sunday photojournalist, was also attacked by seven members of the uniformed forces after taking a picture of an asthmatic maiden who had collapsed at the Reed Dance at Mbangweni Royal Residence. They forced him to delete the pictures. 6WDWHRI%URDGFDVWLQJ Unbridled censorship remains a concern within the state broadcasters, namely, the Swaziland Broadcasting and Information Services (SBIS) and Swaziland Television Broadcasting Corporation (STBC). Government has banned reporting on the activities of the labour unions, including strikes and announcements, in the state broadcasters. Affiliates of the Trade Unions Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) reacted by kicking out Swazi TV reporters from their meetings accusing them of negative reporting or total news blackout. Union leaders were not the only ones affected. ICT minister Winnie Magagula has extended the ban to all Swazi people irrespective of their status in society. She has invoked the Public Service Announcement (PSA) guidelines, which bar citizens from airing their opinions in the radio and television stations. They have to clear their views or opinions with their chiefs before they can be aired on the broadcast media. Setting an example, both Swazi TV and Swazi Radio pulled off air a national announcement made by Acting Governor of Ludzidzini Royal Residence, Timothy Velabo Mtetwa. Hot on the heels was the stoppage of a popular Swazi TV talkshow, Makhelwane Umbona Ngetento, hosted by gospel artist Mduduzi Simelane. In addition, the minister issued a warning to prevent parliamentarians and ministers from making statements or announcements in the broadcast media that could be construed as campaigns. Banning citizens from speaking freely on the state broadcaster has demonstrated an urgent need to transform the state broadcaster into the public service broadcaster. Swazi TV suspended acting assistant news editor, Vusi Gamedze, and avid editor, Earnest Mabaso for allowing a foreign newsstory into the bulletin that ‘misrepresented the annual Reed Dance ceremony’. 6R7KLVLV'HPRFUDF\"