H. E. Sibusiso Dlamini
Prime Minister
Office of the Prime Minister
Mbabane
Swaziland
Vienna, 11 November 1997
Your Excellency,
The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors and media executives from newspapers, magazines, broadcasting organisations and news agencies in over 100 countries, is most concerned about the government of Swaziland’s plan to introduce a restrictive media law.
The bill, which has been approved by the cabinet and is now before parliament, would give a statutory media council – appointed by a government minister – powers to regulate the operations of the media, license journalists and enforce a government-drafted code of media ethics.
IPI is informed that the bill will require all journalists wishing to practice in Swaziland to register. Accreditation will require a journalist to be over 18 years of age and a Swaziland resident, and to have a diploma in journalism or mass communications. A fee will be payable and accreditation will have to be renewed every year. Only an accredited journalist will be able to own or operate a media institution.
The accreditation procedure states that foreign journalists will be unable to work in the country unless they are resident in Swaziland. As most foreign correspondents reporting on the southern African region are resident in South Africa and not in Swaziland, they would not qualify under the new law.
We understand that failure to comply with the provisions of the bill could result in a fine of approximately US$ 3,000 and/or a prison sentence.
IPI strongly condemns restrictions on the right of the media to gather and distribute information, and, in this connection, opposes state-imposed media councils and codes of ethics, licensing or other certification procedures. We therefore urge Your Excellency to ensure that the bill is withdrawn and that any future efforts to regulate the media are determined and developed on a voluntary basis by the journalists themselves.
We thank you for your attention.
Yours sincerely,
Johann P. Fritz
Director
