SECTOR 1 eventually dropped, whilst the charges against Sebola were changed to abuse of office.9 The outcome of the case against Abueng Sebola is unknown. Under the Public Service Act of 2008, ‘there is a process which forbids public employees from sharing documents and information with any other person unless they are authorised to do so.’ Additionally, all public servants are required to sign a form swearing them to secrecy for several years after they have left civil service employment. Soldiers are sworn to secrecy for life. Journalists have to register under the Media Practitioners Act, which was adopted ‘as an attempt to improve journalistic standards or to make sure that...the right people can practice.’ ‘There are very clear criteria for registration: qualifications and the authority of the minister [of information] amongst other things. A minister is able to impose sanctions on a journalist or prevent the practitioner from practising...or even sanction the institution [the journalist] works for, for allowing the practitioner to produce an [unfavourable] article.’ Under the law – fines and/or imprisonment can be imposed on journalists. ‘One of the things that we were quite against was the idea that there were... minimum entry standards...educational qualifications for you to become a practitioner.’ The Media Practitioners Act of 2008 has however not yet been implemented. ‘While we may be feeling comfortable now because it has not been implemented, we should be worried for the future.’ Failure to implement the Act is a direct result of the Law Society’s refusal [as a sign of protest] to appoint a legal practitioner to chair the Appeals Committee, as required by the law. 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: 9 ✓ ✓ ✓✓ ✓✓✓✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 1.9 (2005 = n/a; 2007 = n/a; 2009 = n/a; 2011 = n/a; 2014 = 1.6) http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?aid=66970&dir=2017/february/27. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER BOTSWANA 2018 13