Newspaper castigated over readers’ letters

THE Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued a warning to the Windhoek Observer’s editor-in-chief, Hannes Smith, telling him to stop publishing letters insulting founding President Sam Nujoma.

In a written statement signed by Information Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah this week, the weekly newspaper is condemned for publishing a letter, written by “a true daughter of the Namibian soil,” in its March 13 edition, in which Nujoma is severely criticised. The letter is the latest in a number published by the newspaper over the years whose contents have offended the founding President and Government.”Mr Smith, can you stop writing those letters and if it is true that you are not the author of those hate letters, you should stop publishing them,” the Ministry statement reads.”Letters of insult and hatred targeting national leaders continue to appear in the Windhoek Observer.”It is highly disappointing and unacceptable for Mister Smith to keep on abusing the Namibian Constitution”, it continued.The Ministry further said that Nujoma had won global admiration for his work both during the country’s liberation struggle and during the first 16 years of Independence, and thus deserved the respect of everyone living in Namibia.Smith had been asked in December to publish a public apology, the Ministry stated, which he has yet to do.Asked for comment on the statement, Smith said yesterday he would continue to refuse to apologise for publishing the letters.He criticised the Ministry for issuing a public statement rather than directing their objections to himself only, “I will die before giving an apology,” he insisted.The letter is the latest in a number published by the newspaper over the years whose contents have offended the founding President and Government.”Mr Smith, can you stop writing those letters and if it is true that you are not the author of those hate letters, you should stop publishing them,” the Ministry statement reads.”Letters of insult and hatred targeting national leaders continue to appear in the Windhoek Observer.”It is highly disappointing and unacceptable for Mister Smith to keep on abusing the Namibian Constitution”, it continued.The Ministry further said that Nujoma had won global admiration for his work both during the country’s liberation struggle and during the first 16 years of Independence, and thus deserved the respect of everyone living in Namibia.Smith had been asked in December to publish a public apology, the Ministry stated, which he has yet to do.Asked for comment on the statement, Smith said yesterday he would continue to refuse to apologise for publishing the letters.He criticised the Ministry for issuing a public statement rather than directing their objections to himself only, “I will die before giving an apology,” he insisted.