Govt support for Angelina, Brad

FOREIGN journalists who want to cover the stay in Namibia of celebrity couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt will have to come accompanied by proof of consent that the couple has agreed to meet with them.

This was spelled out by the Ministry of Broadcasting and Information in a statement yesterday. The statement, signed by Permanent Secretary Loini-Nyanyukweni Katoma, said the Namibian Government intended to support the Hollywood celebrities in their quest for peace and quiet away from the limelight.”The Government of the Republic of Namibia welcomes the two Hollywood celebrities, Mr Brad Pitt and Ms Angelina Jolie in the country and trust that they will enjoy a memorable stay in the Land of the Brave,” Katoma said in the official statement.”In as much as the Government of Namibia welcomes foreign journalists on working visits to the country, it feels Constitutionally bound to not only protect the privacy of its own citizens, but also the privacy of visitors to Namibia,” the statement says.”Since Mr Pitt and Ms Jolie, who are regarded as visitors to the country, were over the weekend forced to release a statement in which they asked the local and international media for privacy so that they can enjoy this beautiful country with their children, the Government feels compelled to take steps to protect their privacy.”By the same token, the Ministry said it welcomed foreign journalists to the country, but if they wanted to work here, they have to apply for a temporary work permit.”The processing of a temporary work permit takes approximately three days if the applicant has submitted all the required documents and proof of payment of N$230 with the application,” the statement reads.It said Government had no intention of preventing foreign media practitioners from visiting the country to give it much-needed international publicity.The statement, signed by Permanent Secretary Loini-Nyanyukweni Katoma, said the Namibian Government intended to support the Hollywood celebrities in their quest for peace and quiet away from the limelight.”The Government of the Republic of Namibia welcomes the two Hollywood celebrities, Mr Brad Pitt and Ms Angelina Jolie in the country and trust that they will enjoy a memorable stay in the Land of the Brave,” Katoma said in the official statement.”In as much as the Government of Namibia welcomes foreign journalists on working visits to the country, it feels Constitutionally bound to not only protect the privacy of its own citizens, but also the privacy of visitors to Namibia,” the statement says.”Since Mr Pitt and Ms Jolie, who are regarded as visitors to the country, were over the weekend forced to release a statement in which they asked the local and international media for privacy so that they can enjoy this beautiful country with their children, the Government feels compelled to take steps to protect their privacy.”By the same token, the Ministry said it welcomed foreign journalists to the country, but if they wanted to work here, they have to apply for a temporary work permit.”The processing of a temporary work permit takes approximately three days if the applicant has submitted all the required documents and proof of payment of N$230 with the application,” the statement reads.It said Government had no intention of preventing foreign media practitioners from visiting the country to give it much-needed international publicity.