SECTOR 3 of Information, with no protection from state interference. This process is not transparent and does not involve civil society, although, legally, there is meant to be public consultation and interest groups are expected to submit nominations. Section 6 of the Act states: “that the Secretary to the President and Cabinet, and the Secretary for Information, must be represented on the board as two of the ex-officio members.” Section 9 of the Act states: “that the Minister of Information, on the recommendation of MACRA, shall appoint the Director-General, thus making the DG directly responsible to the minister and not the board.” “The current MACRA board was appointed just a few days ago (in August 2012) and it came like a bolt out of the blue, through press announcements.” Panellists said that as a result, there was a lack of political integrity on the board, while the professionalism of the board members was highly questionable. Chairperson Martha Kwaitane’s background is in health rights activism. “The new board members are unknowns in the broadcasting sector. We doubt whether they have any broadcasting experience at all. All we suspect is that they are all presidential sympathisers.” “MACRA is the cash-cow of the government. It charges exorbitant rates to telecommunications companies and broadcasters to use their transmitter towers and for licences.” 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: 1.6 (2010 = 1.7; 2008 = n/a; 2006 = n/a) AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER MALAWI 2012 39