SECTOR 1 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: 4.6 (2005: n/a; 2007: n/a; 2009: 4.4, 2011: 3.8) 1.6 Confidential sources of information are protected by law and/or the courts. There are no laws that protect sources of information. While the United Nations (UN) Convention on Corruption protects whistleblowers, the Namibian Anti-Corruption Act of 2003 merely protects the identity and address of witnesses that assist the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). As explained by one of the panellists, “If we had effective general whistleblower legislation it could cover sources”. Conversely, Section 212 of the 2004 Criminal Procedures Act can be used to order a journalist to reveal his her source, as it allows a court to convict a witness for refusing to release information without providing ‘just excuse’. It is not specified what would qualify as ‘just excuse’. The Diamond Act of 1999 gives power to the Minister of the line ministry to force someone to disclose confidential sources. By extension this would apply to journalists as well. Lastly, the possibility of interception of electronic communication as established in the Communications Act of 2009 makes the protection of sources potentially very difficult. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER NAMIBIA 2015 19