(MISA/IFEX) – On 29 July 2003, the Swaziland government moved toward imposing five-year jail terms on journalists found guilty of contravening the country’s proposed Secrecy Act. The proposed act bars journalists from publishing information regarded by the government as top secret. Civil servants found guilty of disclosing such information face the same punishment. Details of […]
(MISA/IFEX) – On 29 July 2003, the Swaziland government moved toward imposing five-year jail terms on journalists found guilty of contravening the country’s proposed Secrecy Act.
The proposed act bars journalists from publishing information regarded by the government as top secret. Civil servants found guilty of disclosing such information face the same punishment.
Details of the new law are currently being discussed by the cabinet following the move by Parliament, on 29 July, to approve the proposed legislation. The new regulations are intended to force journalists and media outlets to reveal their news sources when called upon to do so by the authorities. The move is widely seen as an effort to clamp down on journalism as a profession.
“If a journalist is convicted of contravening the Secrecy Act, he or she faces a minimum sentence of more than US$3,000 (R25,000) or five years in jail,” a cabinet source said. “However, a judge is still at liberty to exercise his or her discretion when delivering the sentence. This will depend on the extent of the damages caused by publication of the confidential information,” he added.
“If a journalist is found in possession of confidential government documents, the government will seek a court order forcing that particular journalist or media house to disclose the source of the information. This is a new trend the government has been forced to take,” Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Spokesman David Lukhele said.
MISA-Swaziland National Director Comfort Mabuza condemned the proposed bill, saying it indicates that the Swazi government is not prepared to respect press freedom or freedom of expression.
