SECTOR 1 The government ban on The Namibian newspaper, in place since 2001, prohibits government bodies from purchasing the newspaper and from advertising in it. This ban, thus, denies a large section of civil society from accessing essential public information, such as voter education advertisements, tenders, employment offers and health notices. The Namibian has the highest newspaper circulation in the country. While the Office of the President has launched some 17 commissions of enquiry over the past decade, mostly relating to corruption – including investigations into the Social Security Commission, the Namibian Development Corporation and the Ministry of Fisheries – the reports, or at least the recommendations, have never been made public. Overall government is not putting much effort into making public information accessible. Even the latest copies of the Namibian Constitution have been printed and made freely available by a non-governmental organisation, the Namibia Institute for Democracy (NID). 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: 1.9 (2005 = 2.4; 2007 = 1.8) 1.9 Websites or blogs are not required to register with, or obtain permission from, state authorities. Analysis: Internet content is not regulated in Namibia and no registration or permission is required from state authorities for websites or blogs. 20 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER NAMIBIA 2009