Political Perspective: Voices and Choices

WHETHER the decision to ‘revamp’ the NBC Chat Show into a more topic-driven format was taken by NBC Management or was a political decision, fact remains that it is something that smacks of outright censorship and was a strategically ill-advised move.

This is especially so because there was no prior public explanation as to what was envisaged with the change, and the call-in programmes in question were simply summarily taken off the air, leaving only a vacuum in its place. In turn this pushed the rumour-mill into overdrive.IT is obviously the prerogative of management to make changes but NBC would be advised to tread with caution especially when it affects a programme as popular as the call-in shows, which did give Namibians voice to the extent that the programme was termed ‘the people’s parliament’.Some of those justifying the NBC decision on the grounds that free speech has been ‘abused’ by certain elements on those very chat shows, are often the very people who should know better, and who themselves take hate-speak to new levels.Yet we all know this forum was abused.But those leaders should instead be helping all Namibians to understand that free speech does not give us the right to say ANYTHING about ANYONE at ANY TIME.A free press has the same constraint, if it can be termed such.It is a responsibility of leadership, all leadership, political and other, to themselves desist from hate speech and to set an example for people to follow.This is absolutely crucial.If leaders themselves engage in what could euphemistically be called ‘name-calling’ then people may think it is OK.We know many of our leaders have and continue to be abusive, and this in turn has led to others following suit or hitting back in similar fashion.(Witness the NSHR’s Phil ya Nangoloh’s response to former President Sam Nujoma’s invective about him)! Leadership must therefore bear responsibility for what has happened at the NBC.NBC should have mechanisms in place on call-in shows that can prevent misuse by those who seek a platform to anonymously malign others.The delay device was one.The NBC also needs to have properly qualified staff in place to run such chat shows.This is not something for a trainee journalist or beginner.The NBC could also look at other mechanisms, such as getting the name and telephone number of the caller, and calling them back to go on air.It is not entirely foolproof, but would deter many of those who simply want to call in to heap insult on all and sundry or specific targets.It is the NBC’s responsibility to see that abovementioned are put in place in order to keep hate speech of any kind off the air.In the print media, we have a similar responsibility concerning our ‘public’ component, which is the readers’ letters.People are free to criticise, particularly those in public office, but usually such criticism is reserved for their actions or lack thereof.This is acceptable, but defaming someone is not.For example, a highly educated writer recently wrote a letter taking issue with a public figure, which was fine in most of its content, except he referred to the subject of his criticism as a ‘psychopath’.This is not acceptable, and was edited.We can all agree that politically things in our country could reach a fever pitch with the run-up to the Swapo Congress scheduled, at last guesstimate, for August.It is a time when we need to practise restraint without detracting from our rights to free speech.We need to take care about what we say and how we say it.I am aware that the NBC chat shows were abused by some, and about a variety of people, not necessarily only former President Sam Nujoma.But then we must remember many who simply want to express their views or put their issues in the public domain have done so in a responsible fashion and without vilifying others.It is these people who have now been denied a voice.Another thing Namibians should realise is that anonymity should not be necessary for one to air one’s views.If you’re a whistleblower on corruption, one could understand such a need, but then the person should be doing more with their information than simply calling a chat show.Speaking out under one’s name is something that should be encouraged, and people’s views should not be held against them.The NBC should bring back the call-in programmes with suitable mechanisms in place to prevent abuse and it is part of their responsibility as media to monitor what goes on air.But give the people back this voice they should.In turn this pushed the rumour-mill into overdrive.IT is obviously the prerogative of management to make changes but NBC would be advised to tread with caution especially when it affects a programme as popular as the call-in shows, which did give Namibians voice to the extent that the programme was termed ‘the people’s parliament’.Some of those justifying the NBC decision on the grounds that free speech has been ‘abused’ by certain elements on those very chat shows, are often the very people who should know better, and who themselves take hate-speak to new levels.Yet we all know this forum was abused.But those leaders should instead be helping all Namibians to understand that free speech does not give us the right to say ANYTHING about ANYONE at ANY TIME.A free press has the same constraint, if it can be termed such.It is a responsibility of leadership, all leadership, political and other, to themselves desist from hate speech and to set an example for people to follow.This is absolutely crucial.If leaders themselves engage in what could euphemistically be called ‘name-calling’ then people may think it is OK.We know many of our leaders have and continue to be abusive, and this in turn has led to others following suit or hitting back in similar fashion.(Witness the NSHR’s Phil ya Nangoloh’s response to former President Sam Nujoma’s invective about him)! Leadership must therefore bear responsibility for what has happened at the NBC.NBC should have mechanisms in place on call-in shows that can prevent misuse by those who seek a platform to anonymously malign others.The delay device was one.The NBC also needs to have properly qualified staff in place to run such chat shows.This is not something for a trainee journalist or beginner.The NBC could also look at other mechanisms, such as getting the name and telephone number of the caller, and calling them back to go on air.It is not entirely foolproof, but would deter many of those who simply want to call in to heap insult on all and sundry or specific targets.It is the NBC’s responsibility to see that abovementioned are put in place in order to keep hate speech of any kind off the air.In the print media, we have a similar responsibility concerning our ‘public’ component, which is the readers’ letters.People are free to criticise, particularly those in public office, but usually such criticism is reserved for their actions or lack thereof.This is acceptable, but defaming someone is not.For example, a highly educated writer recently wrote a letter taking issue with a public figure, which was fine in most of its content, except he referred to the subject of his criticism as a ‘psychopath’.This is not acceptable, and was edited.We can all agree that politically things in our country could reach a fever pitch with the run-up to the Swapo Congress scheduled, at last guesstimate, for August.It is a time when we need to practise restraint without detracting from our rights to free speech.We need to take care about what we say and how we say it.I am aware that the NBC chat shows were abused by some, and about a variety of people, not necessarily only former President Sam Nujoma.But then we must remember many who simply want to express their views or put their issues in the public domain have done so in a responsible fashion and without vilifying others.It is these people who have now been denied a voice.Another thing Namibians should realise is that anonymity should not be necessary for one to air one’s views.If you’re a whistleblower on corruption, one could understand such a need, but then the person should be doing more with their information
than simply calling a chat show.Speaking out under one’s name is something that should be encouraged, and people’s views should not be held against them.The NBC should bring back the call-in programmes with suitable mechanisms in place to prevent abuse and it is part of their responsibility as media to monitor what goes on air.But give the people back this voice they should.