Exploring the Relationship Between Swazi Law and Custom and Journalism Practice in Eswatini: A Case Study of the Times of Eswatini (Swaziland)

Abstract

Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), one of the world’s last remaining absolute monarchies, is a country with strong observance of traditions and practices of customary law. As a result, restrictions on coverage of some aspects of events involving royalty and the Swazi monarch and traditional ceremonies are a reality, and so is the censoring of information on certain sacred rituals performed by the monarch. News audiences have become accustomed to relying on international media for stories on royal scandals and other mortifying matters involving the monarch. This study sets out to explore the nature of the relationship between Swazi law and custom and journalism practice in Eswatini in order to determine how customary law principles and norms influence the media when attempting to inform the public about matters of public interest-including those touching on royalty and the monarch. Employing a qualitative research approach, multiple historical articles from the Times of Eswatini (Swaziland) were analysed, and in-depth interviews were conducted with former editors of the publication. The study confirms that traditional/customary laws and practices influence media choices and demonstrates explicit processes of gatekeeping, agenda-cutting and enforcement of traditionalism as a social ideology.