Richard Rooney is a former journalism and communications professor at the university of Swaziland. He lives in Cyprus and writes the blog Swazi Media Commentary.

I have been following this story on my blog since Nudiso Mamba’s "resignation" in August. At first I wondered if he had really quit or had been fired. Although the official version was that he resigned, everyone (except people living in Swaziland, who do not have access to international media) knew that Mamba and the King’s twelfth wife had been caught having an affair while the King was abroad.

The City Press newspaper first broke the sex scandal story in Swaziland. Very quickly, reports emerged in the African media that the paper had been banned from the kingdom – but only ‘unofficially’. Swaziland security forces were apparently instructed to buy all copies of the City Press that were on sale in the country.

Man arrested for photocopying City Press

On August 11, the Times of Swaziland, the only independent daily newspaper in the kingdom, reported that a man called Sibusiso Mhlanga (allegedly a member of the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), which has been branded a “terrorist entity” by the Prime Minister) was arrested in Manzini as he tried to get a photocopy of an issue of City Press.

On August 11, the Times of Swaziland, the only independent daily newspaper in the kingdom, reported that a man called Sibusiso Mhlanga [allegedly a member of the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), which has been branded a "terrorist entity" by authorities] was arrested in Manzini as he tried to make a photocopy of an issue of City Press.

Media in Swaziland have been banned from reporting the scandal, but South African newspapers and Internet sites all over the world have published news and comment on their alleged adultery. City Press was the first media outlet to obtain the photos of the minister hiding in the hotel mattress.

One senator, Ndileka Dlamini, rather sinisterly called on the Swazi Government to ‘deal’ with any local reporter found to be leaking ‘sensitive news’. Other senators have also said social networks like Facebook needed to be "controlled" because they were being "abused". The government is reportedly looking at laws to control cyberspace. I flatter myself that I am one of the culprits complained of. So in the spirit of freedom of the media, I invite any Swaziland senator to defend their position on the Swazi Media Commentary Facebook site. Senators just "click here".

No matter how hard it tries, the Swaziland state has not been able to keep a lid on the Royal Family sex scandal and what it says about King Mswati and the way he oppresses the Swazi people."