Access to Information Information flow continues to be restricted in Swaziland, although in 2007 a draft Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Bill was published as one of seven new media-related Bills. The Times of Swaziland drew a blank in October 2007 when it tried to uncover the cost of a trip made by the Swaziland Prime Minister and his wife to the Bahamas, which apparently was funded by the taxpayer’s money. The Times was told that the information was ‘classified’. The Times has also been trying without success to get information about how Government tenders are awarded. It is estimated that about 40 million Rand is lost each month to corruption in Swaziland. Broadcasting In June 2007 MISA Swaziland organized a workshop to advocate for the kingdom’s state controlled television and radio stations to adopt a system of public service broadcasting (PSB) which would provide greater access to the airwaves to a wide range of people to share information and ideas. Currently, broadcasting in Swaziland is strictly controlled and only news and information that supports the monarchy and Government can be aired. The workshop was told by the Ministry of Information and Public Service that the kingdom’s radio stations were close to implementing a PSB model. Participants heard that the stations’ collective mission statement committed them to be fully under PSB by the year 2000. This deadline has already been missed by seven years, which tells the truth about the Government’s commitment. The ruling elites have nothing to gain by giving up their control of the airwaves and will therefore not do so willingly. Media Diversity The media environment in Swaziland remains static. The media market is small with broadcasting dominated by the Government. There are two newspaper publishers. The African Echo group owns the Times of Swaziland and its companion newspapers. Tibiyo TakaNgwane, a conglomerate effectively controlled by the Swazi Royal family, owns the rest. There is one independently owned national magazine. Circulation figures for newspapers are not publicly available but it is estimated that the Times of Swaziland sells about 35 000 copies per day and the Swazi Observer between 5 000 and 15 000 per day. Media fraternity The media fraternity remains weak in Swaziland. The Swaziland National Association of Journalists is not well respected (even by its members) and its main contribution to Swazi journalism, its code of ethical conduct, remains largely ignored. The new trade union Media Workers Union of Swaziland made some headway but its membership split over the conduct of a proposed strike at the Times group of newspapers. By the end of the year it was difficult to see whether this union would be able to establish itself as a credible force in the kingdom. So This Is Democracy? 2007 -90- Media Institute of Southern Africa