SMS pages in certain publications are very popular amongst the general public and people tend to be extremely outspoken – likely because they are afforded a certain degree of anonymity. However NGO representatives were concerned about apparent attempts to block public opinion polls using short-message text (SMS) via mobile phones. “Suddenly the SMSs couldn’t go through, and yet this is an innocent activity”. “There is a reluctance for people to speak on the NBC in the same way as people do in the SMS pages.” The NBC’s ‘Open Line’ radio phone-in programme was at one time taken off the air but is now back on sporadically. However there seem to be restrictions on the topics that are discussed. In general, there is still very little criticism against government. More than half of Namibia’s working population is employed by the state, and civil servants are afraid of losing their jobs, or of being bullied at work. “People will be critical to a point, but will avoid making themselves a target.” Having said this, civil servants stood up and spoke out about the squandering of civil service pension funds. “They wanted to march on parliament, but they were stopped by the police.” Police have also blocked other demonstrations, such as those by disgruntled taxi drivers. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER NAMIBIA 2011 7