SECTOR 1 1.5 Print publications are not required to obtain permission to publish from state authorities. The 1963 Books and Newspapers Act, which requires publications to register and to pay a hefty bond of E15 000 (US$ 21732) remains in place, although not all print media have complied with this law. Government uses this law “as and when needed” to silence critical publications and this has an overall chilling effect on print media. The law is very broad in that it applies to most types of publication, including academic journals, and not just to commercial print media. 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: 1.6 (2009: 3.7; 2007 and 2005 n/a) 1.6 Entry into and practice of the journalistic profession is not restricted by law. Currently, there are no laws restricting entry into the journalistic profession. A Media Commission Bill was tabled in parliament in 2009 and would require journalists to have formal qualifications if it became law. This bill has not been enacted and government has registered a Media Complaints Commission (MCC) set up by the media itself (see indicator 4.1.). However, the government has not retracted the bill and “we still have that snake hanging over us”. 2 1 US$ = 6.9 Lilangeni (E) ( July 2011) 18 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER SWAZILAND 2011