ANALYSIS OF COVID-19 REGULATIONS VIS-À-VIS FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN THE SADC REGION stipulated in the regulations. by the government to address COVID-19. The offence is punishable by a fine not exceeding twenty thousand Emalangeni (US$ 1173.71) or imprisonment for a term not exceeding five (5) years. Eugene Dube, Editor of the Swati Newsweek and reporter Mfomfo Nkhambule was arrested for contravening the COVID-19 regulations on the publication of false news. After seven hours of interrogation, Dube was released without a charge. Prior to the arrest, the Swati Newsweek had published articles that were critical of the King. 75The article that Nkhambule wrote criticised the Kingdom’s approach in their COVID-19 response. Mozambique In Mozambique article 27(5) of the Presidential Decree prohibits the media from transmitting information about Covid-19 contrary to the official position.72 South Africa In terms of the Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002, it is a criminal offence to publish false information about COVID-19 and the offence is punishable by a fine or six-month imprisonment or both. Eight people were arrested for allegedly disseminating false information about the pandemic whilst a man was arrested for discrediting the COVID-19 tests kits that the government intended to use in its massive testing campaign and discouraged people from participating in the testing exercise.73Those that were arrested were charged in terms of the Disaster Management Act. Zimbabwe In Zimbabwe, the government adopted Statutory Instrument 83 of 2020 in terms of the Public Health Act. The regulations include prohibition of publication and communication of false news about public officers, officials or enforcement officers involved with enforcing or implementing the national lockdown regulations. This criminal offence is punishable under the Criminal Law Code by a fine or a twenty-year prison term.76In an incident that is said to be in contravention to the regulations, a man was arrested for allegedly authoring and circulating, on social media platforms, a fake statement that announced the extension of the lockdown period. 77 The statement was alleged to have been authored by the President. Two women were later arrested for disseminating the aforementioned false statement. 78They were charged with publishing Swaziland In Swaziland, Section 29 of the COVID-19 Regulations74 criminalise the spreading of any rumour or unauthenticated information regarding COVID-19; publishing any statement, through any medium, including social media, with the intention to deceive any other person about COVID- 19; using print or electronic media on the COVID-19 infection status of any person; or spreading of any rumour or unauthentic information regarding any measure taken 72 Mozambique of the Presidential Decree, article 27(5) https://icnl.org/covid19tracker/covid19uploads/Mozambique%20Declaration%20of%20SOE.jpg 73 A Nyathi et al ‘Cele: 8 People Arrested for Spreading Fake News on Covid-19’ https://ewn.co.za/2020/04/07/cele-8-people- arrestedfor-spreading-fake-news-on-covid-19 (accessed 13 June 2020). 74 http://www.gov.sz/images/CORONA/The-Coronavirus-COVID-19-Regulations-2020.pdf (accessed 13 June 2020). 75 https://cpj.org/2020/04/swaziland-journalists-harassed-threatened-with-tre.php 76 Public Health (COVID-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (National Lockdown) Order, 2020 Statutory Instrument 83 of 2020 https://www.chr.up.ac.za/images/researchunits/litigagion/covid19_country_regulations/Zimbabwe- Public_Health_COVID-19_ Prevention_Containment_and_Treatment_National_Lockdown_Order_2020.pdf (accessed 13 June 2020). 77 ‘Man Arrested For “Publishing Fake Mnangagwa Statement” On Lockdown Extension’ 20 April 2020 https://news.pindula. co.zw/2020/04/20/man-arrested-for-publishing-fake-mnangagwa-statement-on-lockdown-extension/ (accessed 14 June 2020). 78 M Netsianda ‘Bulawayo women in court over fake news’ 5 May 2020 https://www.chronicle.co.zw/bulawayo-women-in-court- overfake-news/ (accessed 14 June 2020). https://zimbabwe.misa.org 18