Ruling party member of parliament calls for clampdown on journalists’ rights
(MISA/IFEX) – During the week of 15 October 2001, South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) party backbencher Doreen Sioka unleashed a barrage of criticism during the National Assembly, accusing the media of being a bunch of “liars, distorters and creators of conflict,” “The Namibian” reported on Monday 22 October. According to the report, Sioka said […]
Charges against journalist withdrawn
(MISA/IFEX) – On 15 October 2001, MISA confirmed that all charges had been withdrawn against Max Hamata, a journalist from “The Namibian” newspaper. Hamata appeared in court early on the morning of 15 October. The charges relate to an incident that took place on Friday 12 October, when Hamata attempted to interview treason suspect Geoffrey […]
Police arrest journalist, seize camera
(MISA/IFEX) – On Friday 12 October 2001, a group of heavily-armed police officers in military fatigues arrested a journalist from “The Namibian” newspaper. Journalist Max Hamata had gone to a private hospital in Windhoek to investigate a high treason suspect’s condition, “The Namibian” reported on Monday 15 October. Hamata was arrested at the Roman Catholic […]
High Court declares advertising ban against newspapers unconstitutional
(MISA/IFEX) – In what is regarded as a victory for media freedom and freedom of expression, during the week of 24 September 2001, the Botswana High Court declared a government ban on advertising in two newspapers unconstitutional. Justice IBK Lesetedi said the advertising ban by the Botswana government on the “Botswana Guardian” and “MidWeek Sun” […]
New defence law seeks to control the media
(MISA/IFEX) – Media rights organisations and editors have called on the Namibian government to review the restrictive media provisions proposed in a new Defence Bill and make it compatible with the Namibian constitution. MISA and the Legal Assistance Centre (LAC) said they were “gravely concerned” about provisions in the bill relating to the media. The […]
National Youth Council joins advertising and purchasing ban against “The Namibian”
(MISA/IFEX) – The National Youth Council of Namibia (NYC), a government-affiliated national youth umbrella body, has taken up the government’s call to cease buying and advertising in “The Namibian” newspaper. In an “urgent confidential internal memo”, NYC Secretary General Pohamba Shifeta called on all staff, members of the Executive Committee, all regional youth forums and […]
Political party joins government in advertising and purchasing ban against independent newspaper
(MISA/IFEX) – Namibia’s ruling party, the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) has joined the government in an advertising and purchasing ban on “The Namibian” newspaper, because of the newspaper’s alleged “hostile attitude” towards government. SWAPO Secretary General Hifikepunye Pohamba sent letters to the party’s regional co-ordinators on Wednesday 13 June 2001, telling them not […]
“The Namibian”‘s editor responds to boycott of newspaper
(MISA/IFEX) – In March 2001, the Namibian government slapped an advertising boycott on “The Namibian” newspaper, claiming the newspaper is too critical of its policies. The decision to ban advertising was taken at a Cabinet meeting on 5 December 2000. However, in March, government departments were reminded to heed the Cabinet decision “with immediate effect”. […]
President orders government boycott of
(MISA/IFEX) – President Sam Nujoma has ordered a total ban on the purchase of “The Namibian” by the Government of the Republic of Namibia. The president issued the directive hot on the heels of an earlier cabinet decision to ban government line ministries from advertising in the newspaper on grounds that it maintained an “anti-government […]
Government slaps advertising ban on “The Namibian” newspaper
(MISA/IFEX) – The Namibian government has slapped an advertising boycott on “The Namibian” newspaper, claiming the newspaper is too critical of its policies, the paper reported on Friday 23 March 2001. According to the report, the decision to ban advertising was made at a cabinet meeting in December 2000 and some government departments have, as […]
Journalist assaulted, accused of racism
(MISA/IFEX) – A member of parliament has been accused of kicking a news reporter before telling him to “f*%k off back to Rehoboth” (a small town, about 78km south of the capital, Windhoek), “The Namibian” newspaper reported on 20 March 2001. According to the report, Alfred Stephanus Dax, a SWAPO (ruling party) member of the […]
Police investigate dailies for contempt of court
(MISA/IFEX) – Earlier this week, police warned the editors of English daily “The Namibian” and Afrikaans daily “Republikein 2000”, and the Society of Advocates, that it is investigating all three institutions for possible charges of contempt of court in relation to critical comments made by them in November and December 2000. According to a Friday, […]
Government and party officials distance themselves from youth leader’s statements
(MISA/IFEX) – Officials from the government and the ruling South West African People’s Organisation (SWAPO) party have distanced themselves from statements made by the leader of the SWAPO Youth League, Paulus Kapia, saying the statements do not represent official policy. SWAPO Secretary for Information and Mobilisation Alfeus Naruseb, quoted in “The Namibian” newspaper, distanced the […]
State broadcasting employee settles with broadcaster
(MISA/IFEX) – On 3 November 2000, senior Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) employee Norah Appolus reached a settlement with the NBC in a case in which she was challenging her removal as head of the news and current affairs division. The settlement involved Appolus agreeing to move to a different senior management post. In terms of […]
Ruling party youth leader warns of all-out assault on newspaper
(MISA/IFEX) – On 4 November 2000, the leader of the ruling South West African People’s Organisation (SWAPO) Youth League, Paulus Kapia, hit out harshly against “The Namibian” newspaper and gave notice that the youth wing was planning an all-out assault on the newspaper. Quoted in “The Namibian”, Kapia, who was speaking at a Youth League […]
Court rules in favour of state broadcasting employee
(MISA/IFEX) – On 27 September 2000, the Namibian Labour Court ordered the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) to reinstate senior staff member Norah Appolus to the post of news chief at the public broadcaster. The ruling stemmed from an application to this effect by Appolus following several sweeping changes to the top management of the NBC […]