Swaziland Broadcasting Corporation (TV). A private television station, Channel Swazi, has been unable to maintain consistent broadcasts over the years. There are currently no commercial, public service and community radio stations in Swaziland. The Swaziland Community Multimedia Network have lobbied and applied for community radio licences to no avail. However, the ICT Ministry has agreed to issue one-day provisional broadcasting licences to SCMN members. They broadcast the King’s Birthday and University of Swaziland Graduation Ceremony. community radio stations and MISA Swaziland, which has been canvassing for the transformation of the state-broadcaster into a public service broadcaster. Against this background in the kingdom of Swaziland, the Swazi High Court ruled in September last year that the Suppression of Terrorism Act and the Sedition and Subversive Activities Act were unconstitutional. It was a ruling welcomed by Swazi pro-democracy groups but one that might be challenged or simply annulled by royal proclamation. Media Regulation and Laws In March 2016, the ICT Ministry Parliamentary Portfolio Committee lobbied other MPs in its campaign against the ICT Minister in the House of Assembly. Collectively, they got him to issue a public statement in the print media lifting the ban from the state broadcasters. This also stopped it from enforcing the Public Service Announcement Guidelines (PSA) which excluded them from accessing the airwaves at the radio and television stations. Heeding calls for the liberalisation of the broadcasting industry, the Information and Media Development Directorate set in motion the tabling of the Swaziland Broadcasting Bill 2016 before Parliament. This sought to introduce a threetier broadcasting regimen namely commercial, community and public service broadcasting. The Directorate also organised a twoday consultative stakeholders’ meeting in July 2016 to discuss the proposed Swaziland Broadcasting Bill 2016. This was followed by its validation by media stakeholders. This was welcome news to the Broadcasting Bill Committee, which has been pushing for the licensing of Swaziland Broadcasting Bill was tabled before Parliament. Local Content Development May 2016 saw the Information and Development Directorate bringing together the key players around a discussion table to deliberate on the issue of local content in the broadcasting sector. These included the Swaziland Independent Film and Television Producers Association (SIFTPA), SBIS, STVA, Voice of the Church, Channel Swazi, SCMN and MISA Swaziland. Its purpose was threefold. Firstly, to assess the capacity and capabilities of the producers. Secondly, to establish the local content quota at the state broadcasters. Thirdly, to identify the shortcomings of local content producers. It was a huge success as the Directorate invited ICASA and SABC to share their So This is Democracy? 2016 97