Keep Your Eyes Peeled on This Platform
We need to stay vigilant and report those spreading misinformation
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There’s an enormous difference between expressing a different opinion on a topic and spreading outright lies and misinformation.
I had occasion to witness this when I read an article in a local online news outlet in South Africa about an anonymous publication here on Medium spreading misinformation about the assassination on 21 January, 2023, of Swaziland human rights activist and lawyer, Thulani Maseko.
This publication on Medium implicated Zweli Martin Dlamini, editor of Swaziland News, an independent online newspaper, in the killing of Thulani. Zweli Dlamini operates from and lives in South Africa as the Swazi government has declared him a ‘terrorist’.
I concede that those who monitor publications and writers on Medium may be unfamiliar with the ongoing fight for democracy in eSwatini (formerly Swaziland), a land-locked country bordering South Africa and Mocambique.
eSwatini is an absolute monarchy ruled by King Mswati III, together with his mother, Queen Mother Ntombi. They exercise veto powers over the three branches of government and are above the constitution.
In 1973, the current ruler’s father, King Sobhuza II, issued a proclamation banning all political parties — the monarchy has never repealed this.
If you want to learn more about eSwatini, this article published on October 9, 2022, in the Harvard Political Review will give you insights on the people’s fight for democracy:
On March 5, I reported the anonymous publication to Medium:
“An article published by Daily Maverick reporters from South Africa on March 3, 2023, cites this publication on Medium, The Hidden Side, as one of many anonymous websites spreading a misinformation campaign which publishes Swazi anti-democracy movement stories.
