SECTOR 1 Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: 2.1 (2008 = 1.9 ; 2006 = 2.1) 1.2 The right to freedom of expression is practised and citizens, including journalists, are asserting their rights without fear. Before 2007, citizens and the media were able to debate issues fairly openly, but the situation has changed since then. “After the 2007 elections people are a bit timid again… something is making citizens reserved,” one panellist noted. Panellists felt the following issues had influenced this change: • In 2008, opposition MP and trade unionist, Billy Macaefa, was prosecuted for sedition for implying that the government should be removed. This alleged implication was made at a public meeting. Macaefa was charged under the Sedition Proclamation 44 of 1938 and section 7 (d) of the Internal Security (General) Act of 1984, but the charges were dismissed by the High Court. The courts finally dismissed the state’s appeal against the ruling in April 2010, with the judge ruling that Macaefa’s speech was neither seditious nor subversive. “After the 2007 elections people are a bit timid again … something is making citizens reserved” • D uring the 2007 election campaign, much of the private media backed the opposition parties, which came close to defeating the ruling party. After the elections, the new government threatened to stop advertising with the private media because of their support of the opposition. • The main opposition party was formed after a split from the ruling party. As such, the ruling party feels vulnerable. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER LESOTHO 2010 11