Swaziland 2.5 Community broadcasting enjoys special promotion given its potential to broaden access by poor and rural communities. ANALYSIS: There are still no community radio stations operating in Swaziland. The Lubombo Community Media Group has been trying to establish a station for the past eight years, but is yet to be granted a license. This despite the fact that the former Minister for Information promised to issue several community licenses after the adoption of the Information and Media Policy in 2005. The Policy states, “As a means of expanding public access and participation in mass media and development, community radio stations shall be introduced in the Kingdom of Swaziland, licensed for an initially renewable period not exceeding 24 months, owned and managed by a particular community through a trust or association, and whose main aims shall be to serve and benefit the community in question.” Lubombo Community Radio (LCR) has been granted three temporary licenses to broadcast royal events. The most recent was a 3day license to broadcast the King’s birthday celebrations. But the licensing process was frustratingly slow and the license was only granted on the day the station was scheduled to begin broadcasting, preventing LCR from raising funds, advertising the frequency and preparing programme content. The failure, so far, to issue a permanent licence to LCR has meant the station’s equipment has not been maintained and volunteers who were trained have now moved on. Community radio is viewed as competition for the state-owned SBIS. It is, therefore, not in the interest of government to promote it. The Ministry of Public Service and Information, however, lays the blame for the lack of community stations at the feet of the communities for not equipping themselves with the necessary resources. African Media Barometer - Swaziland 2007 17