On Monday 13 May 2019, the government of eSwatini, formerly Swaziland, angrily denied viral media
reports, that King Mswati the third, had ordered all men in eSwatini, to have at least two
wives, or face being jailed.
The fake news story was first published by the Zambian Observer, and later picked up
by several other media publications.
According to the Zambian Observer, the King had ordered all Swazi men to marry several
wives, and that all men in eSwatini have up to June 2019, to comply fully with this directive.
According to the story, those men, who will fail to comply before the deadline of June
2019, will be imprisoned.
The story also indicated, that the government of eSwatini, would sponsor all the marriage
ceremonies organised in response to the directive, and also, offer houses to the Swazi men, who
entered into polygamous life-style, in response to the decree issued by the King.
The fake news story, which was published on Monday 13 May 2019, has since been removed
from the website of the Zambian Observer, and replaced with another article, reporting
on the reaction of the eSwatini government on the original fake news story.
Apparently, some men took the fake news seriously, and endorsed it, with the assumption that
there must be a high number of single women in eSwatini, and that the King was taking
a precise action, to avert a chain of disasters, which could be set off by the high imbalance
in the ratio of men to women in eSwatini.
However, eSwatini government spokesman, Percy Simelane, called the story "malicious" and
"poisonous".
According to Simelane, his majesty has not made any pronouncement to that effect, as
it has never been an issue.
He indicated that the story was "not only an insult to the monarchy, and the culture
of eSwatini, but a disgrace to journalism".
He made a call to members of the public on social media, and journalists, to be sensitive
to the issue.
The government of eSwatini demanded, that the media house retract its story.
Officially, these are the words of the government of eSwatini, in response to the fake news
story published by the Zambian Observer media website.
Government Press Statement.
Number 7, 2019.
Malicious reports about King and country.
In the wake of several poisonous reports published in some foreign newspapers, social media platforms,
and other forums, purported to be official statements by His Majesty, King Mswati the
third, Government wishes to state the following.
#1 … The current dispatch titled, Marry more wives or face jail, quoting the King,
and all other related reports, are not only an insult to the Monarchy and the culture
of eSwatini, but a disgrace to journalism.
#2 … His Majesty has not made any pronouncement to that effect, as it has never been an issue
raised by Emaswati.
#3 … We will continue to appeal for morality, responsible behaviour, and professionalism
among journalists, and the general public, with access to social media.
It would be unfortunate if journalism and social media are turned into character assassination
platforms, and springboards to ridicule individuals and leaders.
#4 … The latest dispatch is attributed to the Zambian Observer newspaper, and we continue
to demand that the newspaper produces the supposed statement allegedly issued by the
King, and retract this insult.
Percy N Simelane.
13 May 2019.
Government Spokesman.
Please check in the description box below, for the links to the sources of this report.
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