The issue of protection of confidential sources came to the fore with the inauguration of the Anti-Corruption Commission in 2006 when civil servants who wanted to act as whistleblowers found that legally they would not be protected. President Hifikepunye Pohamba has since given the green light for a law to be created to protect whistleblowers. The Namibian chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) has been lobbying “for years” for a Freedom of Information Act, which would encompass protection of sources. “It’s a matter of political will. The Minister of Information seems to imply that a media council is the pre-requisite for any positive developments within the media.” SCORES: Individual scores: 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 1, 2, 1, 1 Average score: 1.8 (2005 = 2.1) 1.6 Public information is easily accessible, guaranteed by law, to all citizens, including journalists. ANALYSIS: There is no Access to Information Act. People have access to certain public information like court documents but there is no law forcing the government or companies to divulge information of public interest. Government officials often make it difficult for journalists to get information in the public interest. “In Namibia there is such a culture of secrecy around public information that people have stopped asking. This leaves a lot of space for officials not wanting to be transparent or open.” Investigative journalists have found that even accessing information from the Registrar of Companies can be difficult, but the question remains whether this is intentional or as a result of sheer incompetence. Documents that should be in the public domain, such as the budget, are made available only to certain individuals or institutions, while the government website, which could be a good tool for informing the public, is hopelessly outdated. A point was made that if you know the right person in government you can also get documents sent to you electronically. Concern was raised that the 2006 Hansard [the official report of parliamentary debates] is still not available, and this should be a way for the government to disseminate information to the public. Parliament is also discussing establishing regional centres around the country, which could provide Namibians with more access to documents and information of policy. SCORES: Individual scores: 1, 2, 1, 2, 3, 2, 1, 2, 1 Average score: 1.8 (2005 = 2.4) So This Is Democracy? 2007 -197- Media Institute of Southern Africa