SECTOR 1 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: 1.2 (2005: n/a; 2007: n/a; 2009: 1.9; 2011: 1.5) 1.5 Print publications are not required to obtain permission to publish from state authorities. In order to publish, print publications need to register with the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology and obtain a licence to publish by paying a bond of E15,000 (US$1,500), in accordance with the 1963 Books and Newspapers Act. The draft Books and Newspapers Bill, currently before Parliament, proposes increasing this bond to a much more substantial E50,000 (US$5,000). The Books and Newspapers Act also requires publishers to submit two copies of each publication to the Registrar of Newspapers within the ICT Ministry on a daily basis. “Most publications don’t do this and have been getting away with it, but this could unfortunately be their downfall if the state chose to investigate controversial publications and used this instrument to close them down.” Further, the definition of ‘print publications’ is very broad. Even newsletters sent out to members of unions or distributed via social media, for example, could be included under this definition, although unions are not registered with the Ministry of ICT. “The moment you have something in your publication in opposition to government, they can use this to silence you. So in a sense, this could apply to publications of all kinds, union newsletters included.” AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER Swaziland 2014 21