Swazi Bheki Makhubu - a fearless newsman

Published Sep 27, 1999

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Mbabane - Bheki Makhubu has carved a niche for himself in Swazi journalism as one of the most straightforward and fearless that the business has ever produced. In his 10 years of journalism, he stands out as a controversial figure.

Born 29 years ago in Luyengo, Makhubu always wanted to be a journalist. His peers at St Christopher's High School attest to the fact that he would never shy away from a good argument and developed his keen sense of political commentary at an early age.

It is not surprising to discover he was born and brought up in the home of one of Swaziland's first indigenous journalists, Prince Makhubu, who worked for the Times of Swaziland and The Observer.

After completing school in the late 1980s, Makhubu joined the Times of Swaziland as a cub reporter in January 1988. He was soon promoted to the post of sports reporter and then became a subeditor.

When the editor of the Times of Swaziland on Sunday resigned, Makhubu was appointed editor of the paper at the age of 23.

Being the first conventional Sunday newspaper in the country, people relied on it for detailed analyses.

During his tenure, the newspaper's reputation has grown and there is no doubt that Makhubu stands among the most accomplished journalists in the country today.

He knows controversy, and at times appears to enjoy it. It was because of this that, under his guidance, the paper carried the slogan "A controversial issue" under its masthead.

He picked correspondents who gave the paper greater political independence than any other, in an environment not conducive to independent thought.

He once wrote that King Mswati III was a businessman. The remark got him in trouble and the newspaper had to bow to pressure and he was forced to apologise to the king.

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