(MISA/IFEX) – The Lozi-language service of the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), which is based in Katima Mulilo in the Caprivi province of Namibia, has ceased broadcasting following an occupation of the NBC building by armed attackers on 2 August 1999. Alleged secessionist rebels occupied the NBC building at Katima Mulilo while also attacking several other […]
(MISA/IFEX) – The Lozi-language service of the Namibian Broadcasting
Corporation (NBC), which is based in Katima Mulilo in the Caprivi province
of Namibia, has ceased broadcasting following an occupation of the NBC
building by armed attackers on 2 August 1999.
Alleged secessionist rebels occupied the NBC building at Katima Mulilo while
also attacking several other key installations in the town. The Namibian
Defence Force (NDF) later blasted the building with mortars in an attempt to
flush out the attackers. It is not clear to what extent the building and
equipment had been damaged.
Reports suggested that the attackers tried to go on air but did not succeed.
There were no reports of casualties among NBC staff, and NBC spokesperson
Umbi Swartz-Karauihe confirmed that no attempt was made to force NBC
employees to assist the attackers. Swartz-Karauihe confirmed, however, that
several NBC employees, including the manager of the NBC office at Katima
Mulilo, John Mutongu, were in hiding for fear of their lives. At this stage
it is not clear whether they are being targeted specifically because they
are NBC employees or because they generally are not supportive of the
apparent armed insurrection in the province.
Background Information
The Caprivi region has been the scene of heightened military activity since
August of last year when the first reports surfaced of an alleged
secessionist movement in the province. For months after these initial
reports surfaced, several thousand people living in the region fled into
neighbouring Botswana and requested political asylum. Earlier this year,
Botswana granted asylum to just over a thousand of the refugees, while
others were voluntarily repatriated to Namibia.
