SECTOR 3 The composition of the NCC board as outlined under indicator 3.2 seems to be at the root of these problems: “A board representing party interests cannot act in the public interest as they are representing only part of the country’s interests.” 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: 1.8 (2005 = 2.0; 2007 = 1.8) 3.4 The state/public broadcaster is accountable to the public through a board representative of society at large and selected in an independent, open and transparent manner. Analysis: According to the Namibian Broadcasting Act of 1991 the NBC board consists of between six and 11 persons, appointed by the Minister of Information and Communication Technology at his or her own discretion. The process of appointment is thus not independent, open or transparent. The board appoints the Director General but has to seek approval from government (cabinet). Presently members of the board come from the Polytechnic of Namibia, the Bank of Namibia, the Ministry of Defence, the Namibian Literacy Trust and the United Methodist Church in Namibia; one member is the mayor of a town. In the view of one panellist “the Minister was trying to make the board representative of society”, by having representatives from the educational and financial sectors, for example. Members of the board do come from different ethnic groups and there is an attempt at gender balance – two out of seven board members are women. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER NAMIBIA 2009 45