SECTOR 1

After the Constitution was passed in 2005, six media bills were proposed the
following year, including the Swaziland Public Broadcasting Corporation Bill,
the more general Swaziland Broadcasting Bill, the Books and Newspapers
(Amendment) Bill, the National Film Bill, the Swaziland Communications
Commission Bill, and a Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Bill.
The only one that has been passed to date is the Swaziland Communications
Commission Act of 2013.
The media reform process appears to have stalled, leaving the media sector in
limbo, particularly with regards to the issuing of new broadcasting licences.
Currently, there is no access to information legislation in Swaziland, which
would simplify journalist’s work by, for example, ensuring their rights to access
information held by public bodies.
“The outstanding bills, in their current state, however, will impose greater
restrictions on the media. Upon analysis, government draughtsmen have realised
that if passed, the bills could lead to people who are not pro-government being
appointed to boards of semi-autonomous bodies, so these bills have not been
promulgated.”

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:

1.8 (2005: n/a; 2007: n/a; 2009: n/a; 2011: n/a)

AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER Swaziland 2014

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