Radio licence awardee linked to 2021 unrest, MP claims

LOBAMBA – The granting of two commercial radio broadcasting licences has come under political scrutiny.

This follows allegations that one of the awarded companies is linked to individuals associated with progressive political movements who were allegedly involved in the political unrest that rocked the country in 2021.

The allegations were made by Mbabane East Member of Parliament (MP), Welcome Dlamini, who questioned the vetting process followed before the licences were awarded, particularly whether political affiliations were considered during the assessment of applications.

Dlamini raised the concerns during the portfolio committee debate on the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology’s (ICT) second-quarter performance report in Parliament yesterday.

Although the MP did not identify the licence holder or the individuals he was referring to, he questioned the decision to grant two licences when the initial announcement had reportedly indicated that only one would be issued.

He also expressed concern over the possibility that individuals whose political backgrounds could raise questions about their suitability to operate influential broadcasting platforms had been granted licences.

Dlamini acknowledged the importance of liberalising the broadcasting industry, particularly radio, saying the granting of the two licences was a development worth commending.

However, he argued that the history of radio licensing in the country made it necessary for authorities to exercise caution when assessing applicants.

“When it comes to radio licences, we saw two radio licences being granted, we commend that. We do need to liberalise the industry, the radio particularly. But then, if I remember well, the initial announcement was that only one radio licence was to be granted but we then saw two being issued. Why?” he asked.

He wanted to know what had informed the decision to issue two licences and whether the successful applicants had undergone thorough vetting.

The MP further suggested that political affiliation could have played a role in the past when applications for broadcasting licences were considered, noting that some applicants had allegedly waited for decades without success.

He questioned whether the authorities had now abandoned the consideration of political backgrounds when assessing applications for radio broadcasting licences.

“Have we now done away with issues of political affiliation when considering applications for radio licences or radio broadcasting?” he asked.

Dlamini said his concerns were informed by the influence radio could have on society, particularly during politically sensitive periods.

To illustrate the power of broadcasting, he referred to the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, during which radio was used to spread propaganda and incite violence.

He argued that the influence of radio made it important for the country to carefully consider the backgrounds of those entrusted with operating broadcasting stations.

The MP further linked his concerns to the political unrest experienced in Eswatini in 2021 and said: “I am asking because I know during the political unrest, we saw the political posture of certain people, who today we see holding those licences,” he said.

The licences were officially announced in August this year by the Eswatini Communications Commission (ESCCOM), which granted free-to-air commercial radio broadcasting service licences to two entities.

The development marked a significant milestone in the country’s broadcasting industry, as the two stations became the first privately operated commercial radio broadcasters to receive such licences in Eswatini since independence.

The successful applicants have been given 12 months from the date of the award to commence broadcasting operations, failing which they risk losing their licences.

During the same sitting, the MPs raised concerns over the deteriorating financial position of the Eswatini Television Authority (ESTVA), warning that the public broadcaster could find itself in a situation similar to that of the Eswatini Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (EPTC), which has faced financial difficulties.

MP Welcome questioned what the ministry was doing to stabilise the financial position of the television station, particularly given the reported difficulties in meeting its financial obligations.

He said the persistent cash flow crisis was worrying, especially as the institution continues to rely on overdrafts while experiencing delays in paying suppliers and honouring pension obligations.

“The station relies on overdrafts, experiences delays in honouring pension obligations and paying suppliers,” he said.

He also wanted an explanation on the delay in rehabilitating the station’s studio, noting that although funds had reportedly been released for the project, they had not yet been transferred to the implementing agency.

Beyond the financial challenges, Dlamini raised concerns about the welfare and job security of ESTVA employees, alleging that some workers were employed on one-year contracts.

He said the short-term employment arrangements had created an unstable working environment, with some employees reportedly leaving the institution after their contracts expired.

Dlamini questioned how the ministry intended to address the situation, warning that the lack of job security could further undermine the institution’s operations.

Adding to the concerns, Hhuwini MP Alec Lushaba warned that ESTVA appeared to be heading in the same direction as EPTC, suggesting that the television authority could eventually require a government bailout if its financial challenges were not addressed.

“It is apparent that ESTVA is going the same route as EPTC. We will soon need to bail it out as it will no longer afford pension payouts and other things,” Lushaba cautioned.

Meanwhile, Minister for ICT, Savannah Maziya was applauded for the appointment of Thulani Fakudze as the new CEO for EPTC.

The minister acknowledged the praise by the MPs an in jest said it was unfortunate that some CEOs are easy to remove when not doing their job while others cannot be touched.

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