Swaziland
ment and public bodies: “For all intents and purposes it is a free
paper.”
SCORES:
Individual scores:

2, 3, 2, 2, 3, 3, 2, 2

Average score:

2.4

2.7

(2005=1.9)

Local or regional independent news agencies gather and
distribute information for all media.

ANALYSIS:
There are no news agencies currently operating in Swaziland.
SCORES:
Individual scores:

1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1

Average score:

1.0

2.8

(2005=1.0)

Media diversity is promoted through adequate competition
regulation/legislation.

ANALYSIS:
There is no legislation that promotes competitive practices and ensures media diversity.
The Information and Media Policy adopted in 2005 states: “An independent regulator shall enforce fair and competitive market practices and discourage monopolistic tendencies in the information
and media industry in accordance with the Fair Competition Act”
(7.7.3). But in the absence of both an independent regulator and
African Media Barometer - Swaziland 2007

19

Select target paragraph3