Swaziland In suppressing sincerely held opinions or inconvenient truths in the name of respect, the judiciary is displaying remarkable disrespect for the principles of natural justice and tolerance. If freedom of speech is continually trampled on, the image of Swaziland in the eyes of the world will continue to decline. It is not so-called ‘disrespectful’ or ‘offensive’ speech that causes the problems; it is the criminalising and silencing of that speech, of that open debate, which causes the problems. In handing out disproportionate rulings in defamation cases in the name of protecting the powerful, the judiciary is harming Swaziland’s constitution, which should be protecting free speech and media freedom. What we must take from the shocking events of this year is the importance of standing together to fight for free speech in Swaziland. It has been a wake-up call to Swaziland’s divided media organisations and we must respond by becoming stronger and uniting in our struggle for the decriminalisation of freedom of expression. 68 So This is Democracy? 2014