SECTOR 1 is now used to ‘give the Postmaster General the authority to seize a publication not properly registered.’ It is further speculated (although some panellists felt certain) that an application has to go through DISS vetting first. What is true and an often occurrence is that representatives of government, ie DISS, will seek out information from lawyers about citizens who apply for employment, tenders, company registration etc. ‘Foreign journalists coming into the newsroom have to be vetted by the DISS.’ 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: ✓✓✓ ✓ ✓✓✓✓ ✓ ✓✓ 1.9 (2005 = n/a; 2007 = n/a; 2009 = 1.0; 2011 = 1.4; 2014 = 1.9) 1.6 Confidential sources of information are protected by law and/or the courts. ‘There has been a law [the Whistleblowing Act] that was passed [in 2017] that deals with protection of sources...a law that is supposed to protect whistleblowers but...this [Act] is the actual opposite of what practitioners or civil society would expect of it.’ ‘In theory’ the Corruption and Economic Crime Act is meant to protect sources of information ‘but in practice, they are not protected.’ Under the law, before ‘you intend to reveal secrets, you are required to initially report the matter to the police and the DCEC [Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime]. This is supposed to ensure your protection, but instead, it is a more a case of, “I am a secret source, but here I am.” This means a whistleblower is legally forced to reveal his/her identity and subsequently is not offered any protection. In a case where a potential whistle-blower passes information to the media without seeking and getting permission to do so, they will be ‘dealt with immediately.’ ‘You can be a whistle-blower reporting to the security system, but not to the media.’ AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER BOTSWANA 2018 15