SECTOR 2 2.5 Adequate competition legislation/regulation seeks to prevent media concentration and monopolies. The Competition Act 2007 provides for an operational oversight commission to monitor fair practices in business, however, the panellists were unsure if this act applied to the media. The Swaziland Communications Bill 2009, which was tabled in parliament but has not progressed further, seeks to regulate the communications industry in terms of fair competition. For now, the SBTC acts as both regulator of and player in the communications industry (see sector 3). 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: 2.3 (2009: 2.2; 2007: 1.3; 2005: 1.3) 2.6 Government promotes a diverse media landscape with economically viable and independent media outlets. “...of twenty-orso publications that have been established over the years, only two or three have survived.” 34 There has been a gradual increase in the diversity of media available in Swaziland as more newspapers have opened, and technology has made media in neighbouring countries more accessible. But: “If you look at the history of the media in the country, you will see that, of twenty-or-so publications that have been established over the years, only two or three have survived. Even the one that has published the 19th century (the Times) has closed periodically. So the government is not promoting media diversity and sustainability.” To launch new newspapers could be even more expensive in the near future as government is said to be planning to increase the bond for registering a newspaper under the Books and Newspapers Act from E15 000 to E50 000 ( US$ 2174 – 7246). AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER SWAZILAND 2011