African Media Barometer Namibia

Freedom of expression is guaranteed by the Namibian Constitution. However, the practice of this right is hindered by certain regulations and laws. Namibia has no Access to Information law that would enable people to access public information. On the contrary, the Public Service Act of 1995 restricts public servants to reveal information. The so-called Communications Act of 2009 as well as apartheid era laws keep on threatening freedom of expression in Namibia.

Despite the above mentioned, Namibian people seem to be relatively free to express themselves, especially anonymously e.g. through social media. The Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) can be commended for its improved governance and the stability it has been fostering over the last years. The handling of the coverage on the 2014 National Assembly and Presidential Elections can be seen as another positive development. The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) created a voluntary electoral code of conduct by which apparently most media houses abided. However, there are some negative aspects about the NBC, such as the removal of certain talk shows during elections.

This shows that Namibia’s state media still lacks independence. Although Namibian journalists were found to do a reasonable job, the quality of reporting still is not as good since journalists tend to work rather reactively than proactively. There is increasing danger for the media to become corrupt as there is too little training on media ethics, and there is a need to review the salaries and working conditions of media professionals. Panellists call for national consultations in order to successfully improve Namibia’s media landscape.