Namibia
Upheated media freedom debate in Namibia

afrol News, 1 June - After the Namibian government banned the purchase of The Namibian newspaper with government monies, the debate about press freedom has become loud and aggressive in the country. Editor Gwen Lister fears "for the future of media freedom," while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Lister is "craving for martyrdom".

The Namibian government in March 2001 slapped an advertising boycott on The Namibian newspaper, claiming the newspaper is too critical of its policies. In May, Namibian President Sam Nujoma ordered a total ban on the purchase of The Namibian by the Government of the Republic of Namibia. Media organisations perceive this as another economic sanction against Namibia's most sold and most outspoken newspaper as the government make no heel of that the "oppositional viewpoints" of the newspaper are the reasons for the bans.

Chief editor of The Namibian, Gwen Lister, yesterday said her newspaper was "both shocked and saddened by the news that President Sam Nujoma has ordered government to cancel purchase orders for The Namibian." 

Lister says she and her colleagues did "accept that it is the democratic right of the President or any other citizen of Namibia for that matter, to criticise or take issue with the newspaper itself or its independent editorial stance, or for that matter, not to read and/or advertise in The Namibian if they choose not to do so."

That was however not the matter. She claims "the fact that the head of state has initiated both an advertising ban and a government purchase boycott of the newspaper has serious repercussions for the future of media freedom in this country, and this is the most worrying aspect. The newspaper will survive the government ad ban as well as the purchase boycott, but what we cannot say, is whether this campaign will be taken any further, and if so, what the medium and long-term repercussions will be." 

Media organisations share Lister's concerns about a worsening media freedom situation in Namibia. The ban on The Namibian seems to be only part of a trend of disciplining critical journalists and government phobias against the media. The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) yesterday noted "with serious concern the deteriorating commitment of the Namibian Government to the fundamental democratic value of Freedom of Expression." Other international organisations and the European Union have earlier filed their protests.

Widespread national and international protest however does not have seemed to impress the Namibian government, as indicated by the new ban on The Namibian. This changed somewhat when the BBC, with its "reputation of objectivity and fairness" (Namibian government statement, 31 May 2001) interviewed editor Gwen Lister in Namibian prime time on 30 May. 

Quickly, the Namibian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement titled "Government Has Not Banned The Namibian," defending its point of view in a language that probably only will underline Lister's argumentation in European capitals. 

- By her own admission during the interview, Ms Lister, confirmed that her newspaper sometimes acted as if it were an opposition party, the statement reads. "Does it not follow, therefore, that Government should not subsidise a newspaper that consistently publishes patently false information and innuendoes about Government policies and maliciously slanders Government leaders?" the Ministry asks, indicating that oppositional views equal malicious slander. 

In a further step to 'tranquillise' foreign scepticism the Ministry states, "The Namibian newspaper is only one of six newspapers and several private radio stations in the country. For the Editor to present her newspaper and herself as the sole representatives of the print media and spokesperson of minorities, whatever that means, is beyond comprehension. Ms. Lister made the bed, she must lie in it." 

Finding her "new bed" both shocking and saddening, Lister however believes she can find rest in it. She notes that "the newspaper has at no stage depended on either the government advertising or newspaper purchases for its survival. Neither should the impression be given that the government has 'subsidised' us in any way. Government advertising accounted for just over 56 per cent of our total advertising revenue; and newspaper sales to government have been 429 per day," says Lister.

- Adverts, when they were placed in the past, were presumably placed in order to reach the readers of The Namibian, which has a national audience, says Lister. "Likewise purchase of the newspaper by government was presumably done so that that officials could inform themselves on what was happening in the country."

The Namibia-based Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) is more concerned about the general situation of media freedom in Namibia. "The Government's actions in principle represent an attack on the newspaper's unfettered right to freedom of expression as guaranteed in Namibia's constitution," the renowned media watchdog says in a statement. 

- It may also have a chilling effect on the environment for freedom of expression in Namibia, as citizens may become afraid of exercising their fundamental right of expressing criticism of Government, Luckson Chipare, Regional MISA Director says.

The Namibian government rejects these claims. "It should be pointed out that since independence the Government has never harassed, arrested or detained any newspaper editor or journalist or ever banned any newspaper in our country," yesterday's media statement says. "The freedom of the media and expression have been and remain unfettered." 

Research by MISA and other media organisations does not sustain this claim:

• On 3 May 2001, as The International World Press Freedom Day was celebrated in Windhoek, Namibia, international journalists covering the celebrations were informed they were not allowed to report on anything other than the media events while in Namibia. International media organisations protested. 
  
• In April 2001, President Nujoma referred to the Namibian press in general as "very reactionary". Nujoma has headed government campaigns against the independent media and particular journalists, increasingly making hateful statements about them.
  
• On 6 April, Nujoma made racist remarks to a white, Namibian BBC journalist, saying she was siding "with the enemy". He also claimed the media only wanted "to waste other people's time". 
  
• On 15 March 2001 a SWAPO (ruling party) MP physically attacked a journalist and sent a mob on him for not being black of skin.
  
• In February 2000 a Namibian court laid charges of contempt of court against "The Namibian" and "Die Republikein" for critical reporting about a high court rule.
  
• On 10 January 2001, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the newly appointed board of directors of the government-funded newspaper "New Era" to take journalist David Kashweka to task for a critique he wrote on the volatile situation in the Kavango region.
  
• On 4 November 2000, the leader of SWAPO's 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.
  
• In July 2000, President Sam Nujoma intended to sue the weekly "Windhoek Observer" newspaper for reporting that he owns a diamond mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
  
• On 2 May 2000, SWAPO members of parliament called for action against the country's state-owned newspaper, "New Era", because of it's reporting. "New Era" should "propagate" the government's mission, but was not doing so. 
  
• On 4 February 2000 Minister Pendukeni Ithana criticised certain newspaper editors of working hand in hand with the political opposition, thus alleging that the press was foreign-owned and out to "hoodwink" the nation.

The Namibian government however claims media freedom is guaranteed in the country. Concerning Lister's complaints, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs states, "Nothing can be farther from the truth." The editor was only trying "to gain sympathy at home and abroad."

- The Editor has been trying to play victim supposedly as a result of her 'courageously standing up to the Government' that is autocratic and intolerant of different opinions in the absence of a strong political opposition, the Ministry explains. "She is clearly craving for martyrdom. If opposition parties fail to appeal to the Namibian people because of their checkered history that is their own business."

Sources: Based on Namibian government, The Namibian, MISA and afrol archives

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