The controversy surrounding the Swaziland government’s failure to renew newspaper owner Douglas Loffer’s work permit has aroused fears that this could be a ploy to silence the press in the kingdom.
Briton Loffler owns five newspapers in the country — among these the Times of Swaziland which is the kingdom’s leading newpaper and is a frequent critic of the government, calling for accountability and transparency.
Two months ago Loffler was told by the Ministry of Home Affairs that his work permit would not be renewed and was given an ultimatum to leave Swaziland by the end of June.
Loffer who has lived in the kingdom for the past 23 years was dumb founded by the news: “I was not given a single reason for the refusal and I thought maybe it was because the authorities found The Times too blunt and outspoken ”
But his 120 employees stood by him and converged on Home Affairs Miniter Prince Sobandla Dlamini’s office and presented a petition expressing concern about their and the paper’s future.