Lifting the ban on the Namibian Newspaper

THE Namibian Government needs to reconsider the advertising ban that was placed on The Namibian more than nine years ago.

This was the call of the newly appointed Minister of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture, Kazenambo Kazenambo, in Parliament on Tuesday evening.

Responding to questions about the upliftment of the country’s youth, Kazenambo said The Namibian – especially its Newspaper Cup youth soccer tournament – was doing “ a great job” to help the youth. 

“So maybe we should reconsider [the ban]. They are doing a great job in supporting our youth.”

He also had praise for the availability of the newspaper. 

“The newspaper is accessible in most parts of our country. I am not trying to be controversial here.”

In a thinly veiled reprimand, Kazenambo said: “When it suits us, it is good and when it doesn’t, it is not [good].”

The minister made the remarks on the eve of the 81st birthday of former President Sam Nujoma – the initiator of the ban on advertising in The Namibian by all Government agencies on December 5 2000. Nujoma then had the ban instituted due to the newspaper’s alleged ‘anti-government stance’. 

At a later stage, Nujoma further instructed Government ministries not to purchase copies of the newspaper.

Several ministers are, however, regularly seen reading the newspaper in Parliament.

Despite pressure on The Namibian’s editor, Gwen Lister, to challenge the ban in court, she has decided against this. According to her, she wants Government to lift the ban themselves.

Kazenambo was not the first minister to publicly speak out against the prohibition. Several Swapo leaders have expressed their dissatisfaction with it, including the current Minister of Safety and Security, Nangolo Mbumba, and Hage Geingob, the current Minster of Trade and Industry. 

Hidipo Hamutenya, the leader of the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP), has also been quoted as saying it was a “mistake”.

At the start of 2008, Swanu leader Usutuaije Maamberua also called for the lifting of what he called a “stupid ban”.

Credit: www.namibian.com.na