threats to existing media in the form of government and civil litigation. While on the surface government projects itself as friendly to critical and crusading media, politicians continue with an undeclared and covert policy of assimilating journalists through threats; recruiting them as ministerial private secretaries; or offering them perks. These ploys seem to be working to the extent that they have sown distrust within the profession, polarised the media and divided journalists. But while government has been tolerant of critical media in 2005, there were tell-tale signs towards the end of the year that it was losing patience with what it termed sensationalist and false reporting. The Prime Minister warned that should this trend continue, government would be forced to monitor the media closely. The target of this veiled threat of censorship was clearly the privately owned Times of Swaziland newspaper since government holds sway over the other dailies, the state-controlled Observer, as well as national radio and television stations. Civil litigation a threat to press freedom The increase in civil litigation threatened the media in 2005. The Times of Swaziland and The Nation magazine, both privately owned, bore the brunt of such cases. One involved the Deputy Prime Minister who was awarded E750 000 (about US$115 300) damages in a defamation suit against the newspaper over an article that associated him with a banned political party, the Ngwane National Liberatory Congress. While The Times has appealed this ruling, it is estimated that to date it is facing up to a total of E4 million (US$615 300) in similar civil suits. The Nation is being sued E5 million (US$670 000) by a businessman who also serves as Indonesia’s consul in Swaziland over an article accusing him of corrupt procurement dealings with government. The case is still pending. The increase in civil litigation against the media is due largely to what has been termed the ‘juniorisation’ of newsrooms. This is a result of the failure of media institutions to retain welleducated and experienced journalists because of uncompetitive remuneration and poor working conditions. This has led to junior journalists being fast-tracked to senior editorial positions. The situation is further exacerbated by the dearth of talented and professional journalists in Swaziland. So This Is Democracy? 2005 -110- Media Institute of Southern Africa