The annual announcement of the Reporters Without Borders’ press freedom index this week passed by without much fanfare.
This is strange, considering the fuss all and sundry kicked up with last year’s top ranking in Africa.
Namibia improved its score on the index by climbing from 24th in the world to 18th. However, the country’s much-vaunted top spot in Africa was taken by Seychelles.
Freedom of expression and free, robust media are rights Namibians hold dear.
Free speech and a free press combine to help people access news and information from a diverse range of sources that are not dictated or restricted. This helps citizens to make decisions, develop opinions and communicate their views by writing opinions and letters, posting their views on social media, gathering with like-minded individuals and groups, protesting, and voting.
Freedom of the press is a vital part of democracy.
A free press uncovers the truth and holds power accountable. Free expression and free media are often the first casualties when democracies die.
Because Namibia is serious about and committed to democracy, we need to show seriousness and urgency.
Seychelles was 52nd in the world in 2021, and made the massive leap to 13th because defamation was decriminalised in 2021 – a major advance that followed the adoption, three years earlier, of a law on access to public information. The confidentiality of sources is protected, and each outlet has its own ethical code.
In contrast, in Namibia, the legal framework could be improved by finalising the access to information law, which has been in the works for some time.
Provisions on the protection of sources are also incomplete.
Press freedom represents access to credible information for an increasingly jaded and frustrated public. A free press remains one of the markers that Namibia is a healthy democracy. Greater access to information across all platforms would not only cement media freedom, but would restore faith not only in our institutions, but in our democracy overall.
It is important to get the access to information, data protection and whistleblowers protection bills through parliament. But it is important that all stakeholders are properly consulted and their views and contributions not only heard, but also made part of any laws.
It is also important that Namibia sticks to its democratic ideals by not spying on its citizenry and journalists, protecting whistleblowers and jealously guarding press freedom. It will not only lead to the promotion of transparency, accountability and effective governance of all public and private institutions, but it might also help us regain that top spot in Africa we so cherish.