Namibia’s freedom ranking stays same

NAMIBIA has been judged as a free country in which its citizens enjoy a relatively high degree of political rights and civil liberties compared to other countries in the region and the world, but which is still plagued by political corruption, violence and political discrimination against minorities, according to the most recent Freedom in the World survey.

Namibia’s ranking of two for political rights and three for civil rights – one represents the ideal of the highest degree of freedom – has remained unchanged since 2003. The survey is conducted annually by Freedom House, an independent non-governmental organisation which defines freedom as the opportunity to act spontaneously in a variety of fields outside the control of Government and other centres of potential domination.In the region, Namibia’s ranking puts it behind South Africa, which scored a one for political rights and a two for civil liberties, and Botswana, which scored two in both categories.Lesotho has the same ratings as Namibia.Political rights are determined by a nation’s ability to participate freely in political processes, while civil liberties are judged by how much freedom of expression and belief, rule of law and personal autonomy without interference of the state is tolerated.Namibia’s political rights rating is in part judged on the basis that Namibians can change their government democratically and that elections to date have been declared free and fair, despite complaints by the opposition and the recounting of votes after the 2004 elections.It is also noted that allegations of Police brutality persist but that conditions in prisons and military detention facilities generally meet international standards.Further, the 2005 assessment indicates that respect for human rights, freedom of speech and the freedom of the press in Namibia are good.It is noted that the Namibian press is considered one of the freest on the continent.Namibia is praised for having drawn significant foreign investment for its capital-intensive extractive industries such as diamond and uranium mining but, the report notes, most Namibians continue to live as subsistence farmers and many lack access to basic services.CAPRIVI ‘MOST NEGLECTED’ The Caprivi is singled out as the region that Government is accused of neglecting the most and being among the country’s poorest.Government’s efforts to end discrimination against the indigenous San aside, the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) still maintains that the San remain marginalised and subject to rights abuses.”Despite constitutional guarantees, women continue to face discrimination in customary law and other traditional societal practices,” says the report.Violence against women and the lack of Government action to provide compensation for the victims, despite a domestic violence law, remain disconcerting.One of the factors keeping Namibia’s ratings from reaching the ideal is the under-representation of women in Government and politics.In the region, only Namibia, South Africa, Botswana and Swaziland are rated as truly “free” nations, while Mozambique and Zambia are rated as only “partly free” and Swaziland, Zimbabwe and Angola as “not free”.A total of 192 countries were rated by regional experts and scholars.The survey does not rate governments or their performances but real-world rights and freedoms as enjoyed by individuals.The survey is conducted annually by Freedom House, an independent non-governmental organisation which defines freedom as the opportunity to act spontaneously in a variety of fields outside the control of Government and other centres of potential domination.In the region, Namibia’s ranking puts it behind South Africa, which scored a one for political rights and a two for civil liberties, and Botswana, which scored two in both categories.Lesotho has the same ratings as Namibia. Political rights are determined by a nation’s ability to participate freely in political processes, while civil liberties are judged by how much freedom of expression and belief, rule of law and personal autonomy without interference of the state is tolerated.Namibia’s political rights rating is in part judged on the basis that Namibians can change their government democratically and that elections to date have been declared free and fair, despite complaints by the opposition and the recounting of votes after the 2004 elections.It is also noted that allegations of Police brutality persist but that conditions in prisons and military detention facilities generally meet international standards.Further, the 2005 assessment indicates that respect for human rights, freedom of speech and the freedom of the press in Namibia are good.It is noted that the Namibian press is considered one of the freest on the continent.Namibia is praised for having drawn significant foreign investment for its capital-intensive extractive industries such as diamond and uranium mining but, the report notes, most Namibians continue to live as subsistence farmers and many lack access to basic services.CAPRIVI ‘MOST NEGLECTED’ The Caprivi is singled out as the region that Government is accused of neglecting the most and being among the country’s poorest.Government’s efforts to end discrimination against the indigenous San aside, the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) still maintains that the San remain marginalised and subject to rights abuses.”Despite constitutional guarantees, women continue to face discrimination in customary law and other traditional societal practices,” says the report.Violence against women and the lack of Government action to provide compensation for the victims, despite a domestic violence law, remain disconcerting.One of the factors keeping Namibia’s ratings from reaching the ideal is the under-representation of women in Government and politics.In the region, only Namibia, South Africa, Botswana and Swaziland are rated as truly “free” nations, while Mozambique and Zambia are rated as only “partly free” and Swaziland, Zimbabwe and Angola as “not free”.A total of 192 countries were rated by regional experts and scholars.The survey does not rate governments or their performances but real-world rights and freedoms as enjoyed by individuals.

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