MP slams ‘Ministry of Defamation’

THE MINISTRY of Information has become a ‘Ministry of Defamation’, Swapo Member of the National Council John Hakaye alleged yesterday.

Hakaye said through the print and electronic media, the Ministry has allowed people to insult and defame others, including former President Sam Nujoma. “This Ministry has become a breeding spot [of] enmity.I really have a problem with this Ministry,” Hakaye told the National Council during debate on the 2008/2008 Appropriation Bill yesterday morning.He warned that defamation and insults through the media could cause civil war.”We know how civil war erupts and peace and war have never been good friends,” said Hakaye.He said Nujoma is the Father of the Nation and was accorded that status because of the huge contributions he has made to the nation.”Now tell me, is he the same person being defamed in NBC and the print media,” Hakaye wanted to know.”This is very serious,” he added.He said those who are insulting and defaming Nujoma through letters published in the print media are known and should be punished.Last month, the NBC decided to muzzle its radio call-in programmes such as ‘Open Line’, ‘Ewi lyamanguluka’, ‘Chat Show’ and ‘Tjirimeyo’.Some Namibians are opposed to this, saying it is aimed at limiting freedom of speech in the country.Information Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said the aim of the measure was to stop abuse of the programmes by some callers.In his contribution to yesterday’s debate, Swapo MP Barkias Namwandi said Namibia needed to create a culture of entrepreneurship by teaching the youth how to create jobs for themselves and for other unemployed youth.On the agriculture sector, Namwandi said this was the backbone of the economy and Government’s Green Scheme should be implemented in all 13 regions of the country as a matter of urgency.”This Ministry has become a breeding spot [of] enmity.I really have a problem with this Ministry,” Hakaye told the National Council during debate on the 2008/2008 Appropriation Bill yesterday morning.He warned that defamation and insults through the media could cause civil war.”We know how civil war erupts and peace and war have never been good friends,” said Hakaye.He said Nujoma is the Father of the Nation and was accorded that status because of the huge contributions he has made to the nation.”Now tell me, is he the same person being defamed in NBC and the print media,” Hakaye wanted to know.”This is very serious,” he added.He said those who are insulting and defaming Nujoma through letters published in the print media are known and should be punished.Last month, the NBC decided to muzzle its radio call-in programmes such as ‘Open Line’, ‘Ewi lyamanguluka’, ‘Chat Show’ and ‘Tjirimeyo’.Some Namibians are opposed to this, saying it is aimed at limiting freedom of speech in the country.Information Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said the aim of the measure was to stop abuse of the programmes by some callers.In his contribution to yesterday’s debate, Swapo MP Barkias Namwandi said Namibia needed to create a culture of entrepreneurship by teaching the youth how to create jobs for themselves and for other unemployed youth.On the agriculture sector, Namwandi said this was the backbone of the economy and Government’s Green Scheme should be implemented in all 13 regions of the country as a matter of urgency.