Newsmakers 2005: Namibian views

PRESIDENT Hifikepunye Pohamba’s zero tolerance on corruption campaign, coupled with the Social Security Commission’s botched N$30 million investment deal with Avid Investment Corporation, emerged as the top news items of 2005 in a snap survey conducted by The Namibian.

Most respondents cited Pohamba’s inaugural speech and promise to clamp down on corruption as the top Namibian news item and felt he not only preached, but walked the talk. Pohamba’s intentions to stem corruption were given as direct reasons for the decision of Acting Judge Raymond Heathcote to carry out an inquiry into what happened to SSC’s money invested with Avid, which the inexperienced company was unable to pay back.Heathcote released his report last week and recommended that the Prosecutor General consider perjury charges against those who lied under oath during the inquiry.That was also one of the main reasons why Avid matched Pohamba as the top local news story of the year.Three key players in the Avid inquiry – Heathcote, former Works Deputy Minister Paulus Kapia and former Avid Chief Executive Officer the late Lazarus Kandara – also featured prominently on the respondents’ lists of newsmakers of the year.While Pohamba made corruption and greed “a very uncomfortable attribute to have”, Heathcote handled the Avid inquiry “admirably”, in the words of prominent rights lawyer Norman Tjombe.”Those who avidly attended the inquiry quickly forgot about his Afrikaner accent and were left with heavy impressions of his competency and sheer determination to find the missing millions,” said Tjombe.Though he came in late, former Trade Minister Jesaya Nyamu also scored some points for taking on Swapo leader Sam Nujoma.US President George W Bush continued to make headlines internationally and kept his spot as International newsmaker for the third year running.* Prime Minister Nahas Angula Namibian newsmaker: President Hifikepunye Pohamba.At his inauguration he declared zero tolerance for corruption.The consequence of this pronouncement led to other stories, such as the Avid one! Namibian news story: The Avid-SSC story.International newsmaker: The bombing of London underground.Totally unexpected! International news story: Withdrawal of Israel from Gaza * Hannes Smith, Editor of Windhoek Observer Namibian newsmaker: Acting Judge Raymond Heathcote.His handling of the Avid inquiry brought a sense of tremendous achievement and sharpened our senses.Namibian news story: My probe into the frontier warehouses at places like Santa Clara (at the former Oshikango).It has led to an investigation of the Inland Revenue office and hundreds of millions in tax arrears were discovered and people like Tsumeb businessman Karel Grunschloss arrested.Also, the horrific murder in March of people at Kareeboomkolk.Eight people were killed of whom six were cremated.International news story: The Tsunami in eastern Asia and the earthquakes.* Economist Mihe Gaomab II Namibian newsmaker: President Pohamba for practising what he preaches by allowing the public, media, judicial and legislative process to work to expose corrupt practices.For participating in a smooth handover to a new Government in Namibia.For the President to show stewardship and statesmanship during the political storm currently confronting Namibia.Namibian news story: Avid exposed that there is still a need for more effective prudential regulations that should govern the operational and investment processes of the non-financial sector.It almost drowned the much-needed concept of Black Economic Empowerment in Namibia.It showed that justice still has an effective and efficient role to play in an independent Namibia and articulated that we as Namibians can produce soapies of intrigue, money and high-society life involving millions.International newsmaker: Iranian’s conservative President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, for telling the world that Israel must be wiped from the face of the earth and that Israel must be moved from its present geographical space to provinces accommodated by Germany and Austria.International news story: Hurricane Katrina and how the US government handled the crisis in New Orleans.It exposed the US government’s poor preparedness to deal with major calamities.* Walvis Bay businessman Tunino Haskell Namibian newsmaker: The late Lazarus Kandara Namibian news story: The Avid investigation and Kandara’s “suicide”.International newsmaker: Charlize Theron (An African with an Oscar) International news story: Tsunami, the story that carried over into 2005 and Hurricane Katrina and its poor handling by the Bush administration.* Human Rights activist Phil ya Nangoloh Namibian Newsmaker: Paulus Kapia, late Lazarus Kandara and Jesaya Nyamu.Namibian news story: The mysterious death of Lazarus Kandara! International newsmaker: US President George W Bush International news story: The tsunami disaster * Pauline Dempers of Breaking the Wall of Silence Namibian newsmaker: President Pohamba’s approach to national issues like corruption, embracing opposition political parties and his response on the question of national reconciliation and truth commission.He is trying by all means not to be a dictator, unlike the former president.MP Kalla Gertze’s response to the issue of the father of the nation bill showed that he is one of the few who still remembers the principles and values of our liberation struggle.Namibian news story: Jesaya Nyamu’s response to Swapo president Nujoma upon his expulsion from Swapo.He has exercised his right to freedom of expression – the first individual who challenged Nujoma openly from within the ranks of the party after independence.Hidipo Hamutenya failed people like Nyamu.International newsmaker: The Herero/Nama genocide, which hit the international world after 100 years of silence.International news story: African leaders demanding seats in the UN Security Council.It is a direct challenge to the UN that claims to have started with reformation of its structures.* Human rights lawyer Norman Tjombe Namibian newsmaker: Former acting Judge Raymond Heathcote and President Pohamba.Heathcote, in a short time and in an effective way, made corruption and greed a very uncomfortable attribute to have while President Pohamba is steadily making Namibia an open society where issues of public interest can be discussed without fear.No longer do we have the war speeches against people of divergent views or different sexual orientation, white farmers, the San community, the LAC, Misa, BWS, The Namibian, the NSHR and the like.Everyone feels a bit more Namibian now.Namibian news story: SSC-Avid High Court inquiry and how former Judge Raymond Heathcote admirably handled the inquiry.Those who avidly attended the inquiry quickly forgot about his heavy Afrikaner accent and left with heavy impressions of his competency and sheer determination to find the missing millions.International newsmaker: Nelson Mandela.His seemingly endless energy and determination in tackling Africa’s worst problems are really commendable and something we in Namibia need to inculcate in our former politicians so that they can leave petty politics and become real statesmen and -women.International news story: George W Bush and his comical way of changing reasons for bombing Iraq.He is now tapping his own citizens’ telephones so that he can find more after-the-fact reasons for invading Iraq two years ago.* Misa Chairman Robin Tyson Namibian newsmaker: Jesaya Nyamu! In terms of media exposure and media coverage the ‘burning of the letter’ was sheer public relations genius.Namibian news story: The death of Lazarus Kandara.From a media point of view it was also very interesting to analyse the different approaches of the various media to this story.Secondly, ironically, would be a story from 1989.The (Swapo) incursions/setting up of bases on April 1 came back to haunt us this year.International newsmaker: Trevor Ncube – owner and publisher of the Mail and Guardian.I respect that publication tremendously and obviously that respect goes back to the 1980s, when the paper was started about the same time as The Namibian.The confiscation
of his passport by Zimbabwean authorities was, from the point of view of the fight for freedom of expression and media independence, a tremendous shock.International news story: The events of July 2005 in London.What made it so different from the events in New York in 2001 is that these were UK citizens, born and educated in the UK.The question remains – what could have driven them to commit these terrible deeds? * Women’s rights activist Rianne Selle Namibian newsmaker: President Pohamba, with his stature and dignity!! And on the flip side Paulus Kapia – how the mighty have fallen? Namibian news story: The Avid “it wasn’t me” saga, which turned out more like a soap opera! International newsmaker: George W Bush and his invisible and visible advisers.How can anyone get it so wrong? International news story: South Africa vs UN AIDS expert Stephen Lewis.How can a government dally with so many lives when drugs are so available and so needed? * CoD leader Ben Ulenga Namibian newsmaker: Paulus Kapia of the SSC-Avid story.Though many others were involved in the SSC-Avid debacle, he was the most glittering star.He brought a strong whiff of political intrigue and made the story really high stakes.I think he deserves a commission from The Namibian, New Era and other media.Namibian story: SSC-Avid “investment” saga.It gripped the nation for a continuous three months.International newsmaker: George W Bush, for very negative reasons of course.International news story: The sad and disastrous story of the Iraq war.Pohamba’s intentions to stem corruption were given as direct reasons for the decision of Acting Judge Raymond Heathcote to carry out an inquiry into what happened to SSC’s money invested with Avid, which the inexperienced company was unable to pay back.Heathcote released his report last week and recommended that the Prosecutor General consider perjury charges against those who lied under oath during the inquiry.That was also one of the main reasons why Avid matched Pohamba as the top local news story of the year.Three key players in the Avid inquiry – Heathcote, former Works Deputy Minister Paulus Kapia and former Avid Chief Executive Officer the late Lazarus Kandara – also featured prominently on the respondents’ lists of newsmakers of the year.While Pohamba made corruption and greed “a very uncomfortable attribute to have”, Heathcote handled the Avid inquiry “admirably”, in the words of prominent rights lawyer Norman Tjombe.”Those who avidly attended the inquiry quickly forgot about his Afrikaner accent and were left with heavy impressions of his competency and sheer determination to find the missing millions,” said Tjombe.Though he came in late, former Trade Minister Jesaya Nyamu also scored some points for taking on Swapo leader Sam Nujoma.US President George W Bush continued to make headlines internationally and kept his spot as International newsmaker for the third year running.* Prime Minister Nahas Angula Namibian newsmaker: President Hifikepunye Pohamba.At his inauguration he declared zero tolerance for corruption.The consequence of this pronouncement led to other stories, such as the Avid one! Namibian news story: The Avid-SSC story.International newsmaker: The bombing of London underground.Totally unexpected! International news story: Withdrawal of Israel from Gaza * Hannes Smith, Editor of Windhoek Observer Namibian newsmaker: Acting Judge Raymond Heathcote.His handling of the Avid inquiry brought a sense of tremendous achievement and sharpened our senses.Namibian news story: My probe into the frontier warehouses at places like Santa Clara (at the former Oshikango).It has led to an investigation of the Inland Revenue office and hundreds of millions in tax arrears were discovered and people like Tsumeb businessman Karel Grunschloss arrested.Also, the horrific murder in March of people at Kareeboomkolk.Eight people were killed of whom six were cremated. International news story: The Tsunami in eastern Asia and the earthquakes.* Economist Mihe Gaomab II Namibian newsmaker: President Pohamba for practising what he preaches by allowing the public, media, judicial and legislative process to work to expose corrupt practices.For participating in a smooth handover to a new Government in Namibia.For the President to show stewardship and statesmanship during the political storm currently confronting Namibia.Namibian news story: Avid exposed that there is still a need for more effective prudential regulations that should govern the operational and investment processes of the non-financial sector.It almost drowned the much-needed concept of Black Economic Empowerment in Namibia.It showed that justice still has an effective and efficient role to play in an independent Namibia and articulated that we as Namibians can produce soapies of intrigue, money and high-society life involving millions.International newsmaker: Iranian’s conservative President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, for telling the world that Israel must be wiped from the face of the earth and that Israel must be moved from its present geographical space to provinces accommodated by Germany and Austria.International news story: Hurricane Katrina and how the US government handled the crisis in New Orleans.It exposed the US government’s poor preparedness to deal with major calamities. * Walvis Bay businessman Tunino Haskell Namibian newsmaker: The late Lazarus Kandara Namibian news story: The Avid investigation and Kandara’s “suicide”.International newsmaker: Charlize Theron (An African with an Oscar) International news story: Tsunami, the story that carried over into 2005 and Hurricane Katrina and its poor handling by the Bush administration.* Human Rights activist Phil ya Nangoloh Namibian Newsmaker: Paulus Kapia, late Lazarus Kandara and Jesaya Nyamu.Namibian news story: The mysterious death of Lazarus Kandara! International newsmaker: US President George W Bush International news story: The tsunami disaster * Pauline Dempers of Breaking the Wall of Silence Namibian newsmaker: President Pohamba’s approach to national issues like corruption, embracing opposition political parties and his response on the question of national reconciliation and truth commission.He is trying by all means not to be a dictator, unlike the former president.MP Kalla Gertze’s response to the issue of the father of the nation bill showed that he is one of the few who still remembers the principles and values of our liberation struggle.Namibian news story: Jesaya Nyamu’s response to Swapo president Nujoma upon his expulsion from Swapo.He has exercised his right to freedom of expression – the first individual who challenged Nujoma openly from within the ranks of the party after independence.Hidipo Hamutenya failed people like Nyamu.International newsmaker: The Herero/Nama genocide, which hit the international world after 100 years of silence.International news story: African leaders demanding seats in the UN Security Council.It is a direct challenge to the UN that claims to have started with reformation of its structures.* Human rights lawyer Norman Tjombe Namibian newsmaker: Former acting Judge Raymond Heathcote and President Pohamba.Heathcote, in a short time and in an effective way, made corruption and greed a very uncomfortable attribute to have while President Pohamba is steadily making Namibia an open society where issues of public interest can be discussed without fear.No longer do we have the war speeches against people of divergent views or different sexual orientation, white farmers, the San community, the LAC, Misa, BWS, The Namibian, the NSHR and the like.Everyone feels a bit more Namibian now.Namibian news story: SSC-Avid High Court inquiry and how former Judge Raymond Heathcote admirably handled the inquiry.Those who avidly attended the inquiry quickly forgot about his heavy Afrikaner accent and left with heavy impressions of his competency and sheer determination to find the missing millions.International newsmaker: Nelson Mandela.His seemingly endless energy and determination in tackling Africa’s worst problems are really commendable and something we in Namibia need to inculcate in our former politicia
ns so that they can leave petty politics and become real statesmen and -women.International news story: George W Bush and his comical way of changing reasons for bombing Iraq.He is now tapping his own citizens’ telephones so that he can find more after-the-fact reasons for invading Iraq two years ago. * Misa Chairman Robin Tyson Namibian newsmaker: Jesaya Nyamu! In terms of media exposure and media coverage the ‘burning of the letter’ was sheer public relations genius.Namibian news story: The death of Lazarus Kandara.From a media point of view it was also very interesting to analyse the different approaches of the various media to this story.Secondly, ironically, would be a story from 1989.The (Swapo) incursions/setting up of bases on April 1 came back to haunt us this year.International newsmaker: Trevor Ncube – owner and publisher of the Mail and Guardian.I respect that publication tremendously and obviously that respect goes back to the 1980s, when the paper was started about the same time as The Namibian.The confiscation of his passport by Zimbabwean authorities was, from the point of view of the fight for freedom of expression and media independence, a tremendous shock.International news story: The events of July 2005 in London.What made it so different from the events in New York in 2001 is that these were UK citizens, born and educated in the UK.The question remains – what could have driven them to commit these terrible deeds? * Women’s rights activist Rianne Selle Namibian newsmaker: President Pohamba, with his stature and dignity!! And on the flip side Paulus Kapia – how the mighty have fallen? Namibian news story: The Avid “it wasn’t me” saga, which turned out more like a soap opera! International newsmaker: George W Bush and his invisible and visible advisers.How can anyone get it so wrong? International news story: South Africa vs UN AIDS expert Stephen Lewis.How can a government dally with so many lives when drugs are so available and so needed? * CoD leader Ben Ulenga Namibian newsmaker: Paulus Kapia of the SSC-Avid story.Though many others were involved in the SSC-Avid debacle, he was the most glittering star.He brought a strong whiff of political intrigue and made the story really high stakes.I think he deserves a commission from The Namibian, New Era and other media.Namibian story: SSC-Avid “investment” saga.It gripped the nation for a continuous three months.International newsmaker: George W Bush, for very negative reasons of course.International news story: The sad and disastrous story of the Iraq war.