Richard Rooney

Swaziland is going through its worst media freedom crisis in living memory following the conviction of a magazine editor for writing and publishing material that criticised the courts and judiciary.

The tiny kingdom of Swaziland in southern Africa is getting ready for a national parliamentary election this year, amid expectations that the outcome will be a fraud on democracy.

Last month a serial rapist suspect Bhekinkhosi Masina, popularly known as Scarface, was shot by police as they cornered him for arrest. Police say they only shot him in the thigh and he unexpectedly died of his injuries.