A threat by a Swaziland High Court judge to jail journalists that criticise decisions made by the law courts has hit home.
Chair of the Swaziland Editors' Forum Mbongeni Mbingo declined to comment on the statement by Judge Mpendulo Simelane for fear of committing a contempt of court.
Mbingo had been asked by local media to comment on the jailing for two years of Bheki Makhubu, editor of the Nation magazine, and Thulani Maseko, a human rights lawyer and writer. The pair had written articles critical of Chief Justice Michael Ramodibedi and the Swaziland judiciary.
Passing sentence Judge Simelane said that publishing articles in the Nationcritical of the judiciary was 'a defiance campaign against the Courts and the administration of justice. The Courts have an obligation to discourage such conduct in the interest of the stability of our country.'
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