SECTOR 1 speak out against the president. Journalists and activists know their phone calls are being intercepted, and mistrust among the media is growing. “This sense of fear and suspicion in society is becoming normal, as the intrusion of government intelligence into civil society intensifies. The current intelligence budget of P200 million even exceeds that of the police, which received P187 million.” Recently, the government has made numerous negative public statements about the media, with the president even informing journalists that he felt threatened by the media and viewed it as an enemy. He has also accused newspapers of not being factual and professed to not reading them at all. There appears to be an apparent erosion of freedom of expression in Botswana, with fewer alternative views being heard. The government, through its own media, such as Botswana Television (BTV) and Radio Botswana 1 and 2, is cultivating an aura of not being challenged. A BTV programme, The Eye, which used to be a forum for public debate, is now presented solely by Minister of Communications, Science and Technology, Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi. “The current intelligence budget of P200 million even exceeds that of the police, which received P187 million.” Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country minimally meets aspects of the indicator. 3 Country meets many aspects of indicator but progress may be too recent to judge. 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator. 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator and has been doing so over time. Average score: 1.3 (2005 = 1.9; 2007 = 1.9) AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER BOTSWANA 2009 13