SECTOR 3 3.5 Office bearers with the state and political parties, as well as those with a financial interest in the broadcasting industry, are excluded from possible membership on the board of the state/public broadcaster. The state broadcaster has no board, and neither the draft media policy nor the 2008 Communications Policy address this issue. The policy does not go into detail on how the LNBS’s “independent” board will be appointed, nor does it dwell on how its independence will be guaranteed. Panellists argued that there has been a deliberate attempt by government to pack the board of the LCA with members of the ruling party and their families. Indeed, the former Minister responsible for broadcasting stated on air that “this is the radio for the government”, and that “anyone who wants a public broadcaster can start it on their own - this is the government’s broadcaster and we will run it as our own.” The fact that neighbouring South Africa is eroding the independence of its public broadcaster has been used to justify continued state control of Lesotho’s state broadcaster. Civil society groups have tried to raise awareness on this lack of independence of the state broadcaster, but their campaign has had little impact beyond Maseru. It seems that the argument for public service broadcasting has been abandoned, now that the public can listen to private radio stations. Panellists said that private radio stations attracted fanatical followings. 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: 44 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER LESOTHO 2010 1.4 (2008 = 1.0; 2006 = 1.0)