By Sibusiso Dlamini | 2025-04-02

SPECULATION over the change of ownership of the country’s oldest newspaper was put to rest yesterday when Michelo Shakantu stepped into the newsroom at Sheffield Road.

A smiling Shakantu was spotted at the offices of the oldest newspaper in the country, the Times of Eswatini.
While official confirmation remains elusive, multiple sources within the newspaper claim that the publication is now part of the Inyatsi Group, a business empire chaired by serial investor Michelo Shakantu.

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The Zambian-born businessman has been seen at The Times of Eswatini premises at Sheffield Road in Mbabane over the past two days (Monday and yesterday); with yesterday’s visit involving a tour of the newspaper’s facilities in the company of his son.

Sources within the newsroom allege that Shakantu also held a meeting with management.
“We as staff did not meet him though. We only met a human resources manager from Inyatsi Group who informed us of the ownership change,” said one of the sources.

The staff members were also reportedly provided with brand-new smartphones, complete with Eswatini Mobile SIM cards.
Some employees, however, said they remain in a state of cautious optimism until further details have been shared regarding potential shifts in editorial policy or business strategy.

At present, neither Paul Loffler nor the Inyatsi Group has issued an official statement regarding the alleged sale and efforts to get a comment from both parties proved futile as Loffler’s phone rang unanswered and he did not respond to texts.

Inyatsi Group Marketing and Public Relations Manager Ncobile Dlamini also had not responded by the time of going to print despite reading the text sent via WhatsApp at 1643hrs yesterday.

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