owners have expressed the opinion that the political position of the deputy prime minister might have had a bearing on the outcome of the trial. · ALERT Date: July 28, 2005 Persons/Institutions: Media in Swaziland Violation: Threatened Swaziland’s Minister of Public Service and Information Themba Msibi has issued a statement, saying that the Swazi government was considering reviving its Media Council Bill of 1997 if the media failed to put in place a self-regulatory body within the coming two weeks. Swazi media are in the process of establishing such a body. Minister Msibi made the statement during a meeting of journalists in Sidvokodvo outside the town of Manzini. The independent Swazi press still is weak and subjected to censorship, but editors are hoping that the establishment of a self-regulatory body could improve the situation somewhat by limiting government interference. · ALERT Date: June 14, 2005 Persons/Institutions: Citizens of Swaziland Violation: Other The parliament of Swaziland, controlled by King Mswati III, has approved of a constitution that retains total powers with the King. The Swazi opposition was not consulted in the process of defining the Kingdom’s first constitution since 1978 and reject the document. The constitution upholds the ban on political parties. King Mswati’s father banned all parties and annulled the constitution in 1978 as there were popular demands for democratisation. For almost thirty years, the smal Kingdom has been ruled totally according to the will of its kings, who have made international headlines for their wasting of public funds. Meanwhile, a growing number of opposition voices have called for a new, democratic constitution. · ALERT Date: April 7, 2005 Persons/Institutions: Media in Swaziland Violation: Threatened On April 7 2005, Swazi Prime Minister Absalom Themba Dlamini stressed the importance of “positive” media coverage relating to the activities of King Mswati III. This call follows increasing tension within royal spheres over the belief that the media has an agenda to dethrone the king. The meeting with editors and owners from most Swazi media houses was ostensibly an opportunity for the media and Premier’s Office to share ideas on issues for balanced and fair media reporting. So This Is Democracy? 2005 -116- Media Institute of Southern Africa