SECTOR 1 However, panellists also noted that ‘even the chiefs are fearful. Culture is being perverted to make sure central power is maintained all the time’ and ‘there is a growing trend that most chiefdoms are now being led by members of the army, police and correctional services, who have somehow become chiefs’. Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: ✓✓ ✓ ✓✓✓ ✓✓ ✓ ✓✓ 1.5 (2005: 1.6; 2007: 2.1; 2009: 1.7; 2011: 1.8; 2014: 1.6) 1.3 There are no laws or parts of laws restricting freedom of expression such as excessive official secret, libel acts, legal requirements that restrict the entry into the journalistic profession or laws that unreasonably interfere with the functions of media Several laws restrict freedom of expression and interfere with the functions of the media; defamation and contempt of court laws have been used against the media in the past. In 2002, an audit of eSwatini’s media landscape noted that the country had approximately 32 laws that are restrictive to the media. Amongst others, these included: • The Proscribed Publications Act of 1968, which ‘empowers the government to ban publications if they are deemed “prejudicial or potentially prejudicial to the interests of defence, public safety, public order, public morality, or public health”’.2 • The Books and Newspapers Act of 1963, which stipulates the registration of print publications with the Registrar of Books and Newspapers with a prescribed fee of 15,000 Emalengeni (E) (1,079 United States Dollar (USD)). This Act was used to justify the banning of the Swaziland Shopping newspaper, with the state arguing that registration had not been properly carried out. • The Cinematography Act of 1920, which prohibits the filming of various cultural gatherings and celebrations without the consent of the Minister of Public Service and Information. It also empowers the minister to proclaim an 2 12 Freedom House, Freedom of the Press – Swaziland (2007). 2 May 2007. Available at http://www.refworld.org/ docid/478cd54b28.html [accessed 11 November 2018]. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ESWATINI 2018