Swaziland / New Draft Bill to regulate broadcasting industry

Swaziland / New Draft Bill to regulate broadcasting industry

MBABANE, March 12, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ --

The Government of Swaziland has launched a Swaziland Communications Commission Draft Bill 2009 to regulate the broadcasting sector in the country. Once the Bill becomes law, the Commission will among other things, issue licences to TV and radio broadcasters.

The Bill provides for a six-member commission that includes the Chief Executive Officer to carry out the functions of the commission. The members are all appointed by the Minister of Information, Communications and Technology (ICT), according to the Bill.

The Bill, which also seeks to revoke the regulatory powers and functions of the Swaziland Posts and Telecommunications (SPTC) Act of 1980 which regulates radio broadcasting and the Swaziland Television Authority Act of 1983 which regulates television broadcasting, has already been published by the ICT Ministry for public scrutiny. However, it is not clear as to when will the Bill be submitted to Parliament for debate.

The MISA-Swaziland is yet to study the Bill before submitting comments on it to the ICT Ministry.

Background

The government currently dominates the airwaves in Swaziland. Commercial and community radio broadcasters have applied, but in vain for licences under the current legislative framework. It is hoped the new framework will ease the licensing processes.

Source: Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)

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