SECTOR 1 Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country minimally meets aspects of the indicator. 3 Country meets many aspects of indicator but progress may be too recent to judge. 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator. 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator and has been doing so over time. Average score: 3.3 (2005 = 2.1; 2007 = 1.8) 1.8 Public information is easily accessible, guaranteed by law and/or the courts Analysis: Currently there is still no Access to Information Act in Namibia. In practice public information (i.e. information in possession of the state to which the public should have access as it is in the public interest) is difficult to access by journalists, ordinary members of civil society and “even high-profile people”. Officially, if information is requested from a particular ministry, the enquirer must go through the ministry’s Permanent Secretary to access the information. “If she or he is away, it’s too bad.” Most government websites, including that of the state broadcaster NBC, are outdated and not functional in terms of providing current public information. An exception is the broadcasting regulator Namibian Communications Commission (NCC) that “has been quite forthcoming in making relevant documents, such as the draft Communications Bill, as well as draft policies on broadcasting and information and communication technology, available on the NCC website.” The Ministry of Finance is also making an effort to make important public documents, such as the annual budget, more readily available on its website. People who do not have access to the internet may be able to get some documents from ministries in printed form, though often for a fee only. “Poorer people in general will not be able to afford access to such information.” AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER NAMIBIA 2009 19