Swaziland’s justice minister has told the country’s senate that the government is finalising a law that would make it illegal to criticise the King Mswati III on social media networks. “We will be tough on those who write bad things about the king on Twitter and Facebook,” Mgwagwa Gamedze said. Internet penetration is low in Swaziland, Africa’s last absolute monarchy, but social networks have been used to organise public demonstrations, including a student protest last Monday against funding cuts. Last week Swazi senator Thuli Msane claimed online activism was spiralling out of control and disrespecting Mswati III.
READ MORE
-
Destroyed ballot boxes, arrests, assaults – Nigeria reels from latest elections
-
Media outlets excluded from UK Home Secretary’s trip to Rwanda
-
Major new global free expression index sees UK ranking stumble across academic, digital and media freedom
-
Ntwali’s death is a huge loss for Rwanda’s challenging media landscape
