(MISA/IFEX) – Namibia’s ruling South West African People’s Organisation (SWAPO) is reportedly contemplating the forced removal of some of the top management at the state-owned “New Era” newspaper and the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), because of coverage perceived to be sympathetic to the newly-formed Congress of Democrats (CoD). On 13 April 1999, the “Republikein” newspaper […]
(MISA/IFEX) – Namibia’s ruling South West African People’s
Organisation
(SWAPO) is reportedly contemplating the forced removal of some of the
top
management at the state-owned “New Era” newspaper and the Namibian
Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), because of coverage perceived to be
sympathetic to the newly-formed Congress of Democrats (CoD).
On 13 April 1999, the “Republikein” newspaper reported that a proposal
to
this effect was being prepared for cabinet and was expected to come up
for
discussion soon. According to the newspaper, the matter was discussed
at a
SWAPO central committee meeting last month. The meeting reportedly
decided
that the directors of the two institutions should be replaced, while
the top
management of both institutions should be transferred to other
ministries or
government agencies. The aim would be to replace the current top brass
in
the two institutions with more loyal SWAPO supporters.
In an interview with the “Namibian” newspaper, the Director General of
the
NBC, Ben Mulongeni, denied that there had been any political pressure
from
government to stifle voices of dissent. “The government has to be
commended
for their approach towards the media,” he said.
Mulongeni admitted though that the suggestion that his management be
changed
was “alarming because it raised insecurity among management and
staff.” He
made it clear that he would not entertain outside interference.
“Some politicians must understand the nature of our work. We don’t
cover
stories because we love or hate Ben [Ulenga]. Our mission is to
educate and
inform the public. We cover them for record and information purposes
so that
future generations will know what happened many years ago.”
