SECTOR 1 Communications Act, as opposed to security legislation. Some panellists felt that this question was not answered properly, although one suggested government wanted to pass the cost of the centres onto communications providers. Others pointed out that similar methods were used in western democracies. “Personally, I don’t have a problem with the tapping of phones if it is only to combat organised crime, which is on the increase. Our freedoms are limited internationally – there are norms for limiting them, one being national security. My concern is the environment in which this is taking place. Namibia hasn’t really reached the stage with institutions that can implement this law impartially. It is incompatible with the level of democracy we have, and therefore open to abuse.” Furthermore, panellists felt that sections of the 1991 Broadcasting Act, which establishes the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), does not promote Article 21 of the constitution, particularly as the broadcaster is accountable directly to the information ministry. 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: 2.9 (2005: 3.4; 2007: 3.3; 2009: 3.1) 1.2 The right to freedom of expression is practised and citizens, including journalists, are asserting their rights without fear. Namibian citizens practice freedom of expression in varying degrees depending on where they are, the medium they are using and the subject they are talking about. There are groupings of people in different areas that tend to express themselves freely while others are restricted by their political affiliation, their geographical location, or their cultural norms. Some hold back based on their own fears. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER NAMIBIA 2011 11