SECTOR 3 3.4 The state/public broadcaster is accountable to the public through an independent board which is representative of society at large and selected in an independent, open and transparent manner There is no independent board governing the state broadcaster. The Lesotho National Broadcasting Service (LNBS) is a part of the Ministry of Communications, Science and Technology and operates ‘as an arm of the government’. Its stations – LTV, Radio Lesotho and Ultimate FM are answerable directly to the minister. In 2004, a Lesotho Broadcasting Corporation Bill was published, which aimed to transform the state broadcaster into a public broadcaster. However, the Bill was never enacted. ‘The attitude of the current minister shows that things are not about to change soon.’ Panellists posited that the way the current minister exerts control over the state broadcaster is the reason why the Media Policy has been ‘on the ice’. This was regarded as the government attempting to protect its interests in broadcasting. 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: 38 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER LESOTHO 2018 ✓ ✓ ✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓ 1.1 (2015: 1.5, 2012: 1.0, 2010: 1.0, 2008: 1.0, 2006: 1.0)