SECTOR 2

The ruling party, SWAPO, is also a major media entrepreneur. Apart from the
weekly newspaper Namibia Today, SWAPO, through Kalahari Holdings has
shares in the satellite TV subscription service Multichoice Namibia and the
internet service provider Mweb Namibia, while through Zebra Holdings, another
SWAPO company, owns 100 per cent of commercial radio station, Radio Energy.

Electronic communication
Cellular phone networks around the country continue to expand, with a strong
focus on the rural northern areas, where the majority of the Namibian population
lives. Thus, people living in areas who did not previously have access to land line
telephone communication are now linked via cell phone technology, including, in
some areas, to the internet.
In 2007, government imposed VAT on cell phone calls, thus making these services
less accessible to people with lower incomes.
The internet in Namibia remains prohibitively expensive to the majority of the
population, at an average of N$1 per MB. There are internet cafes, especially
in major urban centres, but these are mostly frequented by tourists, especially
since they are very costly – N$15 for half an hour online. In the last two years,
broadband and 3G have been expanded in the country and those who can afford
internet access are enjoying faster download speeds than before.

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: 			

30

AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER NAMIBIA 2009

3.0 (2005 = 3.4; 2007 = 3.9)

Select target paragraph3