Swapo hardliner on NCC board

THE direction of regulatory winds at the Namibian Communications Commission have been questioned with the appointment of Swapo hardliner Asser Ntinda to the body’s board.

Ntinda, Editor of Swapo mouthpiece Namibia Today, and radio personality Selma Ankombo were added to the board by Cabinet at a meeting last month.Ntinda’s addition to the NCC’s top structure raised eyebrows in media circles as word got out this week, especially given his history of defending the ruling party at any and all costs.Chairpersons of both the Namibian chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) and the Namibia Editors’ Forum (NEF) criticised Ntinda’s appointment as a Swapo move to have its way at the NCC.Ntinda yesterday said he considered his appointment as having been based on his professional record, and thus would not be bothered by detractors’ misgivings.’I don’t know why they would question my appointment. I’m a professional journalist, and I’ve been appointed to many positions in my career,’ Ntinda said.The Acting Deputy Director of the NCC, Johan Schutte, referred queries about the appointments to the office of the Minister of Information.No one was available for comment by late yesterday.