SECTOR 1 Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator. 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: 1.2 (2005 = 1.1; 2007 = 1.1; 2009 = 1.0) 1.8 Public information is easily guaranteed by law, to all citizens. accessible, There is no law in Botswana guaranteeing access to public information, although freedom to receive information is constitutionally guaranteed. In fact, there are laws that prohibit access to state-held information, such as the Public Service Act, National Security Act, and the Corruption and Economic Crime Act. Each government ministry has a public information officer (PRO), but they tend to block information, rather than provide access to it. The practicalities of getting information from the government are very difficult, as only ministers and permanent secretaries are entitled to provide information to the public. During the public strike, for example, the health ministry PROs were told not to talk to the media. PROs basically send out approved press releases. “In the past you could access some public information, but this is becoming more difficult now, even for ordinary members of the public.” There is no protection for whistleblowers although legislation in this regard is “in the wings”. The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Botswana Chapter has been pushing for an Access to Information Act for years, and a bill in this regard was presented to parliament in 2010 as a Private Member’s Bill. To date, this has still not been debated in parliament, and it seems the government is a long way from passing such legislation. There is a fear that the whistleblower protection legislation will overshadow any hope of getting an Access to Information Act. MISA Botswana continues to galvanise public support on freedom of information 18 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER BOTSWANA 2011