SECTOR 1 private gain of a minister that is generally performing well, then, the panellist asserted, “the media is being vilified of being against nation-building”. Furthermore, it was also noted that, while it is not official policy it has become practice that “they [government representatives] will just not respond to journalists from certain media houses” or to journalists they consider ‘troublemakers’. 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: 2.7 (2005: 3.3; 2007: 2.8; 2009: 2.4; 2011: 3.0) 1.3 There are no laws or parts of laws restricting freedom of expression such as excessive official secrets, libel acts, legal requirements that restrict the entry into the journalistic profession or laws that unreasonably interfere with the functions of media. Article 21 (2), of the Namibian Constitution states that: “The fundamental freedoms referred to in Sub-Article (1) hereof shall be exercised subject to the law of Namibia, in so far as such law imposes reasonable restrictions on the exercise of the rights and freedoms conferred by the said Sub-Article, which are necessary in a democratic society and are required in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of Namibia, national security, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence.” Blanket provisions such as “national security” or “public order” or vague concepts of “decency and morality” can be problematic as they leave room for broad interpretations that could be used to restrict freedom of speech and expression. Apart from constitutional limitations, there are a number of laws on the Statute Books some of which are remnant from apartheid era that can restrict freedom of expression such as the Protection of Information Act of 1982 (which repeals AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER NAMIBIA 2015 15