Pohamba Is A Victim Of Editorial Hooliganism
I HAVE read over the past few years and noticed that there is an air of hatred harboured by The Namibian’s new editor Tangeni Amupadhi towards Hifikepunye Lucas Pohamba.
It is obvious in Amupadhi’s editorials whether at Insight magazine or The Namibian, that his perception of the president is not founded on professionalism but rather on emotion.
How eager he was when he found out that Pohamba was supporting Geingob; it’s as if the newspaper became anti-Geingob in order to ensure the fulfilment of its prophecy, as Tangeni likes to put it, that Pohamba becomes a “lame duck” president.
Tangeni will regularly openly insult our head of state in his editorials. In the months preceding the congress Tangeni behaved like a scorned woman bellowing insults and innuendo. He has truly set himself up as Pohamba’s Phil ya Nangoloh as he was so adamant about advocating a certain perspective of the President that he blinded himself to the good things that this President has done for our country.
After the formation of the Congress of Democrats, Tangeni deliberately put words in the president’s mouth. He advanced falsehoods in order to sensationalise a story and to make Pohamba look bad. Years later I noticed in the president’s birthday supplement that Tangeni had admitted to putting words in the Presidents mouth and how Pohamba never forgave him for it. He mentioned it in a matter of fact way, yet there were no retractions from The Namibian at the time.
Even the personnel at State House can attest to the fact that Tangeni was sent running from State House due to his creative writing skills. Over years Tangeni’s personal campaign against Pohamba reached unimaginable heights. I noted that he had written an article when the then Swapo presidential candidate was addressing a rally at Eenhana while campaigning for the presidency in which he was speaking in Oshiwambo. Tangeni on the following day printed an article that stated that the presidential candidate had begged the crowd to give him more votes than former President Sam Nujoma.
This was absolute nonsense, for those who were at the meeting and who understand Oshiwambo had never heard the president make such utterances.
Tangeni has been at the forefront of insinuating that President Pohamba is remote controlled by Nujoma. With no inkling of evidence he has massaged this message into the minds of editors.
Do I remember clearly the media started calling Pohamba indecisive after Minister Nghimtina resigned and then came back, yet was there any proof stating that Pohamba had fired him in the first place? Had anyone even bothered to ask the minister just what had transpired? It was much more convenient to rather label Pohamba as indecisive as that is what the editorial had advocated before and there is no greater joy than the fulfilment of prophecy. Journalistic integrity goes out of the window when unknown sources come through the door.
Even Hidipo Hamutenya, whose indecisiveness was more blatant during his attempted suspension of some of his Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) cadres, was not put through the court of editorial opinion as critically as Pohamba for something that he didn’t do.
I would like to thank President Pohamba, for he broke down the barriers of tribalism that kept us apart. His calm nature when confronted by editorial hooliganism earns him my respect. The media has never been freer to bite the hand that fed them.
Quoting Gwen Lister’s twitter feed when she said, “What’s with these spineless newspaper editors these days? When you’re wrong, make it right, or any self-respecting journo will resign!” Wise words from the founding editor! Tangeni and his creative writing have proven him to be a true lame duck editor.
(Note to editor: to better facilitate freedom of speech and expression, I have sent this letter to the media ombudsperson and to the minister of information and communication technology. This is because the letter is critical of the editor and may not be published in order for him to protect himself while he spews hatred about others.)
James Beukes
Via the website
*It’s interesting you are doing exactly what you are accusing me of, namely spreading falsehood, and also putting words in my mouth. Anyway, it is important to differentiate between criticism, insult and hatred as well as between the personal and public interest if we are to have any meaningful debate. Journalists don’t usually earn popularity, especially for ‘speaking truth to power’. So, I won’t lose any sleep over that reality. The expectation that journalists must praise leaders, often for doing the bare minimum of what they are voted into power to do, can be a nation’s undoing. Don’t let our beloved country go to the dogs because of apathy and a lack of vigilance. - Tangeni