that operators were planning to assassinate ministers. LCN attempted to mediate to find out where the information had come from but the minister said he wouldn’t disclose the sources, as it is a security matter. Such blanket statements, made under the guise of ‘safety and security’, are commonplace in Lesotho. Score – 1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1, = 1.0 1.4 Entry into and practise of journalistic profession is legally unrestricted. ANALYSIS: Press cards are issued by government. It is felt that the MISA Lesotho office should be entrusted with this activity. Alternatively, an industry-created, professional regulatory body should be playing that role. Whilst there are no direct barriers with the current arrangement where government issues press cards, i.e. not through a statutory regulator like Zimbabwe’s Media and Information Commission, there are laws in place like the Aliens Control Act, which is often applied to foreign journalists. Score – 4,3,4,2,2,2,3,3 = 2.9 1.5 Protection of confidential sources of information is guaranteed by law. ANALYSIS: There is no legal protection of confidential sources. Score – 1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1 = 1.0 1.6 Public information is easily accessible, guaranteed by law, to all citizens including journalists. ANALYSIS Officials will not release ‘government information’ without permission. Score – 2,1,1,1,1,1,3,1,1 = 1.4 1.7 Civil society in general and media lobby groups actively advance the cause of media freedom. ANALYSIS: There is a very low level of awareness of media freedom. The general public is not sensitized about the importance of the media, so the media is not getting support. Even journalists don’t So This Is Democracy? 2008 -160- Media Institute of Southern Africa