‘Wavered’ ready by early 2007: Minister

THE multi-million-dollar film project on the life of former President Sam Nujoma might be released early next year, according to Information and Broadcasting Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.

Replying to a query by CoD parliamentarian Elma Dienda in the National Assembly last week, the Minister said the approximately N$65 million film ‘Where Others Wavered’ could be ready before the end of the current financial year, which is March 2007. Most of the funds for the film project came from Namibian taxpayers, as Government made the lion’s share of the sum available.”There are still six months until then.What remains now is completion of the post-production of the film and aggressive marketing to start,” the Minister informed the National Assembly.”I hope to invite all Members to view the film by then.”Nandi-Ndaitwah added that the Director’s Cut was shown to Nujoma and the political committee on May 20 to verify “historical and political correctness” before the final post-production process could take place.For that to happen, a legal instrument was needed, the Minister added.”On June 19 2006 a draft post-production contract was sent by my office to the Attorney General for legal scrutiny and advice prior to signing.”Nandi-Ndaitwah admitted she did not know long it would now take to finalise the post-production contract, which was still in the hands of the lawyers.All outstanding accounts which accumulated during the shooting of the film had been paid, according to the Minister, and funds required for the post-production stage were budgeted for in the National Budget.Most of the funds for the film project came from Namibian taxpayers, as Government made the lion’s share of the sum available.”There are still six months until then.What remains now is completion of the post-production of the film and aggressive marketing to start,” the Minister informed the National Assembly.”I hope to invite all Members to view the film by then.”Nandi-Ndaitwah added that the Director’s Cut was shown to Nujoma and the political committee on May 20 to verify “historical and political correctness” before the final post-production process could take place.For that to happen, a legal instrument was needed, the Minister added.”On June 19 2006 a draft post-production contract was sent by my office to the Attorney General for legal scrutiny and advice prior to signing.”Nandi-Ndaitwah admitted she did not know long it would now take to finalise the post-production contract, which was still in the hands of the lawyers.All outstanding accounts which accumulated during the shooting of the film had been paid, according to the Minister, and funds required for the post-production stage were budgeted for in the National Budget.