ESWATINI: HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, OUTDATED LAWS LINGER Introduction D ESPITE the constitutionally guaranteed rights to freedom of expression, freedom of association and access to information, the government of Eswatini has consistently been accused of various human rights violations. The lack of progress into the investigation of the murder of human rights lawyer and activist, Thulani Maseko a year after his assassination has been criticised by the United Nations Group of Experts as “outrageous” and described as: “creating a climate of impunity and a chilling effect on the human rights movement in Eswatini.” (1) The 2022 Country Report on Human Rights Practices, produced by the United States Department of State, details significant human rights issues that include, but are not limited to reports of unlawful or arbitrary killings; cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment by the government; political detainees; serious problems with the judiciary, restrictions on media freedom and freedom of expression, including censorship, and government restrictions on harassment of domestic human rights organisations in Eswatini (2). Government policies continue to limit freedom of expression, with about 32 pieces of legislation having been identified as negatively impacting media freedom in the country. AUTHOR: Nqobile Ndzinisa These include colonial era laws that undermine journalists’ abilities to protect their sources such as the Magistrate’s Court Act of 1939. Additionally, laws that prohibit the publication of certain types of information such as the Proscribed Publications Act, 1968, Cinematograph Act, 1920 and the Sedition and Subversive Activities Act, 1938 remain in force, despite the promulgation of the 2005 constitution. However, it is not all bleak. The recently passed Broadcasting Act 2023 has the potential to encourage media plurality STATE OF PRESS FREEDOM IN SOUTHERN AFRICA 2023 32