Govt ‘gagging the nation’

A GOVERNMENT decision to control call-in programmes on national radio hits at the heart of democracy, is draconian and smacks of the tactics used by the former apartheid regime.

This was spelled out in no uncertain terms yesterday by organisations involved in protecting rights. Some have gone as far as describing the move as flying in the face of the Namibian Constitution.One of the main call-in programmes, the Chat Show, fell silent on Monday, a few days after Government and the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) announced that they would give callers specific issues to discuss on a daily basis.It is seen as as aimed at curbing critical debate on national issues.Activists were quick to point out that Government is trying to “stage manage” what Namibians can and cannot discuss.Information Minister Netumbo Nandi Ndaitwah said the decision was aimed at stopping abuse by callers.Central to the move were claims that some regular callers allegedly displayed a lack of respect for former President Sam Nujoma.It is also seen as an attempt to suppress discussion in the run-up to the Swapo Party congress later this year.Nandi-Ndaitwah announced on Wednesday that the NBC’s top management had decided to change the format of the phone-in programmes ostensibly to stop abuse by callers.On Monday, music was played in the regular 09h00 to 10h00 slot for the National Radio Service’s ‘Chat Show’, irking listeners who called other NBC radio services to complain.Namibians’ right to free, vibrant, natural, open and critical debate had been “dealt a lethal blow”, said Phil ya Nangoloh, the Executive Director of the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR).”Namibia is a democratic society and democratic societies do not inhibit critical debate – they tolerate and protect it.The right to speak freely without fear of government reprisal is at the very heart of democracy,” said the Namibian branch of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa).’UNHEALTHY’ Misa Namibia said the decision was unhealthy for a growing democracy, as the call-in programmes have enormous value in allowing ordinary Namibians to raise issues of concern that might not otherwise come to public attention.”Let it be noted that public officials deserve less – not more – protection from public commentary than ordinary citizens.They have sought the notoriety involved in serving the common weal through public office.And as such, they are the servants of the public, not its masters,” Misa Namibia said.The media group said democracy and economic prosperity were not possible without public accountability on the part of its leaders and transparency in its transactions, and vigourous public discussion of issues and choices.”This veiled attempt by the NBC management is therefore contemptuous and cannot be seen in any other light than the NBC heeding the call of its master,” Misa Namibia said.’DRACONIAN’ In the latest state of the media report on Namibia, which will be launched on World Press Freedom Day tomorrow, Misa noted that Namibia, which was once regarded as a pacesetter on media freedom, was increasingly being seen as lagging behind in several crucial areas.The NSHR described the clampdown as “draconian” and “reminiscent of the antics of the apartheid regime”.”(It) is clearly aimed at unreasonable curbing of freedom of speech and hence totally unconstitutional.This measure is based on a fallacious premise that leaders should not be criticised by those they claim to be leading, even in cases where this is warranted,” the NSHR said in a statement.It said the measure was aimed at suppressing and silencing growing public criticism of especially former President Nujoma.The NSHR said criticising or even insulting US President George W Bush was freedom of expression and opinion on the call-in programmes, while criticising Nujoma and Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe was seen as “insults”.”In our opinion this muzzling of the right to freedom of expression and opinion is an attack on one of most positive achievements by President Pohamba and his administration,” it added.Hence, this state of affairs would be seen by some Namibians as a slap in the President’s face, apparently aimed at undermining his strength and that of Prime Minister Nahas Angula.”The two leaders are widely credited with having made it possible for citizens to express their opinions in a free, responsible and democratic fashion and without fear and or favour,” said the NSHR’s Ya Nangoloh.’NUJOMA FACTOR’ The curbs on phone-in programmes came shortly after several callers to popular NBC shows such as the Oshiwambo-language ‘Free Speech’ and the English ‘Open Line’ called on Nujoma to break his silence by denying or confirming reports about alleged links with the American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).The media reports were based on an analysis of Nujoma’s autobiography ‘Where Others Wavered’ in a series of articles written by Ya Nangoloh in the Windhoek Observer.”As far as we are concerned, the real reason behind the draconian measure is to suppress criticism of Mr Nujoma in the run-up to the scheduled Swapo congress.When citizens are now being told what to say and when to say it on the one hand, and what not to say and when to say it, on the other, then we should be sure that unacceptable restrictions have arrived,” Ya Nangoloh said.He said Namibians had the right to free, vibrant, natural, open and critical debate and that this had been “dealt a lethal blow” by the move from the NBC and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.”This is bound to be challenged,” warned Ya Nangoloh.Misa Namibia pointed out that the NBC remained “directly accountable to the Ministry Information and Broadcasting in defiance of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the SADC Protocol on Culture, Information and Sport, which stipulate that state-funded media should operate independently of government.The NBC is still showing all the signs of being a state broadcaster rather than a public service broadcaster.”Misa Namibia called on Namibians to jealously guard their rights to hold opinions and to express such opinions freely.NBC Director General Bob Kandetu has denied that the decision was brought about by political pressure.Independent observers believe the NBC has been “muscled” into reining in its popular phone-in programmes.In the National Assembly last week, a number of ruling party members of parliament targeted the national broadcaster.They criticised particularly the NBC’s radio call-in programmes, which they accused of being used to “attack” prominent politicians such as Swapo Party President Nujoma.”The radio can become a weapon of mass destruction.Yes,” said the Deputy Minister of Justice, Utoni Nujoma.He charged that the NBC could easily be abused by “unscrupulous elements”.”Some callers are sponsored by outside instruments to be on the radio,” he claimed.Among others who took it upon themselves to take issue with the NBC were Health Deputy Minister Petrina Haingura and Labour Deputy Minister Petrus Iilonga.Additional reporting by Jean SutherlandSome have gone as far as describing the move as flying in the face of the Namibian Constitution.One of the main call-in programmes, the Chat Show, fell silent on Monday, a few days after Government and the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) announced that they would give callers specific issues to discuss on a daily basis.It is seen as as aimed at curbing critical debate on national issues.Activists were quick to point out that Government is trying to “stage manage” what Namibians can and cannot discuss.Information Minister Netumbo Nandi Ndaitwah said the decision was aimed at stopping abuse by callers.Central to the move were claims that some regular callers allegedly displayed a lack of respect for former President Sam Nujoma.It is also seen as an attempt to suppress discussion in the run-up to the Swapo Party congress later this year.Nandi-Ndaitwah announced on Wednesday that the NBC’s top management had decided to change the format of the phone-in programmes ostensibly to stop abuse by callers. On Monday, music was played in
the regular 09h00 to 10h00 slot for the National Radio Service’s ‘Chat Show’, irking listeners who called other NBC radio services to complain.Namibians’ right to free, vibrant, natural, open and critical debate had been “dealt a lethal blow”, said Phil ya Nangoloh, the Executive Director of the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR).”Namibia is a democratic society and democratic societies do not inhibit critical debate – they tolerate and protect it.The right to speak freely without fear of government reprisal is at the very heart of democracy,” said the Namibian branch of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa).’UNHEALTHY’ Misa Namibia said the decision was unhealthy for a growing democracy, as the call-in programmes have enormous value in allowing ordinary Namibians to raise issues of concern that might not otherwise come to public attention. “Let it be noted that public officials deserve less – not more – protection from public commentary than ordinary citizens.They have sought the notoriety involved in serving the common weal through public office.And as such, they are the servants of the public, not its masters,” Misa Namibia said.The media group said democracy and economic prosperity were not possible without public accountability on the part of its leaders and transparency in its transactions, and vigourous public discussion of issues and choices.”This veiled attempt by the NBC management is therefore contemptuous and cannot be seen in any other light than the NBC heeding the call of its master,” Misa Namibia said.’DRACONIAN’ In the latest state of the media report on Namibia, which will be launched on World Press Freedom Day tomorrow, Misa noted that Namibia, which was once regarded as a pacesetter on media freedom, was increasingly being seen as lagging behind in several crucial areas.The NSHR described the clampdown as “draconian” and “reminiscent of the antics of the apartheid regime”.”(It) is clearly aimed at unreasonable curbing of freedom of speech and hence totally unconstitutional.This measure is based on a fallacious premise that leaders should not be criticised by those they claim to be leading, even in cases where this is warranted,” the NSHR said in a statement.It said the measure was aimed at suppressing and silencing growing public criticism of especially former President Nujoma.The NSHR said criticising or even insulting US President George W Bush was freedom of expression and opinion on the call-in programmes, while criticising Nujoma and Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe was seen as “insults”.”In our opinion this muzzling of the right to freedom of expression and opinion is an attack on one of most positive achievements by President Pohamba and his administration,” it added.Hence, this state of affairs would be seen by some Namibians as a slap in the President’s face, apparently aimed at undermining his strength and that of Prime Minister Nahas Angula.”The two leaders are widely credited with having made it possible for citizens to express their opinions in a free, responsible and democratic fashion and without fear and or favour,” said the NSHR’s Ya Nangoloh.’NUJOMA FACTOR’ The curbs on phone-in programmes came shortly after several callers to popular NBC shows such as the Oshiwambo-language ‘Free Speech’ and the English ‘Open Line’ called on Nujoma to break his silence by denying or confirming reports about alleged links with the American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).The media reports were based on an analysis of Nujoma’s autobiography ‘Where Others Wavered’ in a series of articles written by Ya Nangoloh in the Windhoek Observer.”As far as we are concerned, the real reason behind the draconian measure is to suppress criticism of Mr Nujoma in the run-up to the scheduled Swapo congress.When citizens are now being told what to say and when to say it on the one hand, and what not to say and when to say it, on the other, then we should be sure that unacceptable restrictions have arrived,” Ya Nangoloh said.He said Namibians had the right to free, vibrant, natural, open and critical debate and that this had been “dealt a lethal blow” by the move from the NBC and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.”This is bound to be challenged,” warned Ya Nangoloh.Misa Namibia pointed out that the NBC remained “directly accountable to the Ministry Information and Broadcasting in defiance of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the SADC Protocol on Culture, Information and Sport, which stipulate that state-funded media should operate independently of government.The NBC is still showing all the signs of being a state broadcaster rather than a public service broadcaster.”Misa Namibia called on Namibians to jealously guard their rights to hold opinions and to express such opinions freely.NBC Director General Bob Kandetu has denied that the decision was brought about by political pressure.Independent observers believe the NBC has been “muscled” into reining in its popular phone-in programmes.In the National Assembly last week, a number of ruling party members of parliament targeted the national broadcaster.They criticised particularly the NBC’s radio call-in programmes, which they accused of being used to “attack” prominent politicians such as Swapo Party President Nujoma.”The radio can become a weapon of mass destruction.Yes,” said the Deputy Minister of Justice, Utoni Nujoma.He charged that the NBC could easily be abused by “unscrupulous elements”.”Some callers are sponsored by outside instruments to be on the radio,” he claimed.Among others who took it upon themselves to take issue with the NBC were Health Deputy Minister Petrina Haingura and Labour Deputy Minister Petrus Iilonga.Additional reporting by Jean Sutherland