SECTOR 1

“support”. Furthermore, section 22 empowers all police officers, regardless of rank,
to arrest without a warrant “any person who has committed or is committing or
whom the police officer has reasonable grounds for suspecting to have committed
or to be committing” an offence under the Act.
In addition to this, there are another 32 laws that restrict freedom of expression.
Among these, the 1968 Proscribed Publications Act empowers the information
minister to declare a publication or publications “prejudicial to the interests
of defence, public safety, public morality or public health”. The Sedition and
Subversive Activities Act of the same year criminalises the making of statements
that bring into hatred and contempt the King, his heirs or successors. The same law
criminalises statements that raise discontent or disaffection among the people of
Swaziland and promote feelings of ill will and hostility between different groups.
The 1963 Books and Newspapers Act requires the licensing of all print operators,
who have to pay a prohibitive cash bond when entering the media industry. The
1963 Officials Secrets Act bans access to government-held information, except on
approval by senior government officials.

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:

16

AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER SWAZILAND 2011

1.5 (2009: 1.0; 2007: 1.0; 2005: 1.3)

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