SECTOR 1 image or film objectionable ‘if he believes that the picture represents scenes holding up to ridicule or contempt any member of the King’s naval, military or air forces’.3 The Sedition and Subversive Activities Act of 1938, which ‘criminalizes alleged seditious publications and use of alleged seditious words, such as those which “may excite disaffection against the king”4 or which “bring into hatred and contempt” the king, his heirs or successors and “promote feeling[s] of ill-will and hostility” between different groups’.5 The Official Secrets Act of 1968, which ‘prohibits any person who possesses or has been entrusted “by any person holding office under the Government”, with any code, password, sketch, plan, model, article, note, document or information, from communicating it to any unauthorized person, retaining it, failing to take proper care of it or using it “in any manner or for any purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of Swaziland”. The penalty is a fine or a prison sentence of up to five years, or both.’6 • • In addition to the above legislation, criminal defamation laws also exist on the statute books and have been used to punish the media for investigative reporting. ‘They impinge on the extent to which media can freely practise and operate.’ There are also traditional laws and rules that restrict media practice. ‘For example, as a journalist, you can’t take a picture of the king’s car, or the king’s wives as they exit the car. And during traditional ceremonies, you’re told that you can’t take pictures of this or that.’ It is believed that some of these restrictions are to avoid painting a picture of excess to the outside world, given that eSwatini is a developing country that continues to seek aid from other countries. There are no laws that restrict entry into the field of journalism. However, to cover national events, journalists are required to receive accreditation. 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: 3 4 5 6 13 ✓✓✓ ✓ ✓ ✓✓ ✓ ✓ ✓✓ 2.5 (2005: n/a; 2007: n/a; 2009: n/a; 2011: n/a; 2014: 1.8) Swazi Media Commentary, 2008. Available at https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2008/03/swazilands-oppressive-medialaws.html. Human Rights Watch, January 2017. Swaziland Country Summary. Accessed at https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/ swaziland.pdf on 11 November 2018. Fesmedia Africa, 2007. AMB Swaziland. Rooney, R. The new Swaziland Constitution and its Impact on Media Freedom. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ESWATINI 2018