Windhoek: Namibia's media landscape remains among the strongest in Africa, despite growing structural challenges, according to the African Media Barometer (AMB) Namibia 2026 report launched in Windhoek on Thursday. The report, launched by the NMT Media Foundation in collaboration with the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) and DW Akademie, found that while Namibia continues to enjoy a relatively open media environment and strong constitutional protections, challenges remain in implementing existing legislation and ensuring the sustainability of the media sector.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the country's overall AMB score declined from 3.1 in 2022 to 2.7 in 2026. However, the report noted that the decrease does not signify a collapse in media freedom but rather reflects a widening gap between rights guaranteed in law and their practical implementation. Executive Director of the NMT Media Foundation, Zo© Titus, said Namibia has strong constitutional protections and an open media environment, but implementation remains a concern.

"The laws are there, but they are not working for citizens and the media alike," Titus said, referring to the continued failure to operationalise the Access to Information Act and appoint an information commissioner since the legislation was enacted in 2022. The report further noted that economic pressures are increasingly affecting editorial independence, with declining advertising revenue and shrinking newsroom resources placing strain on journalistic output.

Speaking at the launch, Finnish Ambassador to Namibia Katja Kalamak commended Namibia's robust legal framework and vibrant media sector but cautioned that media freedom requires constant protection. She noted that financial and structural pressures are emerging as significant threats to journalism globally. "Rights only truly exist when they are fully realised in practice," Titus said, warning that without effective implementation, legal protections risk remaining theoretical rather than meaningful.

The report also highlighted challenges such as the continued existence of criminal defamation laws and the absence of data protection legislation. It called for urgent action to operationalise the Access to Information Act, strengthen legal protections for journalists, improve transparency in the allocation of state advertising, and safeguard media independence.