Lift newspaper ban now: Misa

THE Media Institute of Southern Africa has called on the Namibian Government to lift its eight-year-old ban on advertising in The Namibian and purchasing the newspaper with State money.

A Cabinet resolution in 2001 banned State advertising in the newspaper because it reportage was seen as too critical of Government and the ruling party.’This ban demonstrates the intolerance that still exists in Namibian society and is also a perpetuation of the politics of hatred, alienation and exclusion which Namibians rejected at independence,’ Misa regional director Kaitira Kandjii said in a statement yesterday.He said the newspaper had recently demonstrated immense magnanimity in placing voter education information from the ECN for free after the electoral body cited the ban as the reason why it could not deal with the newspaper.’Critically the citing of the ban by the ECN demonstrates that this ban is not only on paper but influences tne decisions of public institutions in Namibia. Misa reiterates its position that this ban is a serious violation of media and freedom of expression rights, as the intention is to arm-twist the newspaper to report in way acceptable to the ruling elite,’ Kandjii said.He said one of the key roles of the media was to be critical and ask the hard questions to those in power so that they can be accountable and transparent in their dealings on public matters.According to him, public officials should be prepared for more scrutiny and should take criticism as a key ingredient of any functional democracy.’Misa is convinced that this ban is a bloat on the democratic credentials of Namibia. This ban negates the fact that public funds and public business is done on behalf of citizens and that The Namibian is a bona fide newspaper that continues to play a key role in informing citizens on various developments in Namibia,’ the statement said.The media rights lobby group said the ban was not consistent with democratic practice, as it unnecessarily divided society and, more so, the media.’As Namibia prepares for elections it is fair to say that by maintaining the ban on The Namibian, the Government is deliberately denying information to citizens, hence altering the electoral playing field. If the Government is serious about entrenching democracy and ensuring free and fair elections, where all citizens, are treated equally and fairly before the law, then we say, lift this ban now,’ Kandjii said.