(MISA/IFEX) – Namibia’s Acting Permanent Secretary of Information and Broadcasting, Sankwasa James Sankwasa, has suspended a reporter with the state-owned “New Era” newspaper, Fred Simasiku, because of a report which alleged that Sankwasa had been aware of a Caprivi secession plot. Simasiku, who is based at the Katima Mulilo offices of the newspaper, was suspended, […]
(MISA/IFEX) – Namibia’s Acting Permanent Secretary of Information and
Broadcasting, Sankwasa James Sankwasa, has suspended a reporter with the
state-owned “New Era” newspaper, Fred Simasiku, because of a report which
alleged that Sankwasa had been aware of a Caprivi secession plot. Simasiku,
who is based at the Katima Mulilo offices of the newspaper, was suspended,
effective immediately, from “New Era” operations pertaining to reporting and
distribution of the newspaper, and was barred from driving government
vehicles.
Sankwasa, who is also Managing Director of “New Era”, initially sued his own
paper for half a million Namibian dollars for defamation over the report
which appeared in the 24 August 1998 edition of the paper. However, he
subsequently dropped the court action. The contentious article, which
appeared under the headline “Demonstrators Insult Muyongo”, reported on an
accusation by an official of the opposition Democratic Turnhalle Alliance
party, Victor Muituti, who accused Sankwasa of having “been aware of the
secessionist plans all along.” Sankwasa denied Muituti’s allegations,
describing them as “not only malicious and defamatory,” but intended to
assassinate his good name and character.
The “Namibian” newspaper reports that in a letter to Simasiku dated 7
October, Sankwasa told the journalist that: “Your conduct and indiscipline
has not only caused embarrassment to both New Era publication corporation
and the Ministry (of Information and Broadcasting) but has brought the good
administration of the Ministry into disrepute.” He further stated that:
“The publication of falsified and unverified articles, refusal to respond to
a memo sent to you requiring an explanation regarding to the article and
your unpalatable language in the memo sent to the editor … all constitute
possible misconduct on your part.”
In an interview with the “Namibian”, Simasiku said he would not take the
suspension lying down. He said he would refer the matter to the Labour
Office, the Public Service Union of Namibia (PSUN) and liaise with the
Ministry before approaching his attorneys.
