Yesterday’s engagement between Prime Minister Dr Elijah Ngurare and editors from various media houses was more than a courtesy meeting. It was a reminder of why Namibia continues to stand tall on the African continent and the world at large, when it comes to media freedom.
Such engagements reflect a growing understanding by government leaders that the media is not the enemy. At the centre of both government and the press lies one common interest: Namibia and its people.
The timing of the meeting could not have been more appropriate. Coming just after World Press Freedom Day, it reinforced the message that Namibia’s democratic culture remains alive and respected. Last week, Reporters Without Borders again ranked Namibia among the top countries in Africa for press freedom, affirming what many local journalists experience daily – that the freedom to report is real and meaningful.
That freedom, however, does not happen by accident. It is nurtured by leadership that understands the role of the media in a democracy. The Prime Minister described the meeting as an “icebreaker”, and indeed it was. For many journalists and editors, interactions with political leaders can sometimes carry a sense of uneasiness, especially after publishing critical stories. In some cases, reporters fear hostility, exclusion or silent retaliation simply for doing their jobs.
Yet journalism is not personal. A critical story is not an attack on an individual. It is part of ensuring accountability, transparency and public participation. When leaders openly acknowledge this reality, they help build trust between government and the media. That trust is essential in a democratic society because a healthy relationship between the two ultimately benefits the public.
At the same time, this understanding should not remain confined to top political offices. The message must also reach public relations officers, senior civil servants and regional leaders – especially constituency councillors. Too often, journalists are met with silence, delays or avoidance when seeking comment from government offices. While the media understands the need to follow established communication channels, newsrooms also operate under strict deadlines.
Timely responses are not merely about helping journalists finish stories. They are about ensuring that accurate and verified information reaches the public on time. When officials refuse to comment or delay responses unnecessarily, they create an information vacuum. In today’s fast-moving digital world, such vacuums are quickly filled with rumours, half-truths and misinformation. Once misinformation spreads, it becomes difficult to correct.
Government communication, therefore, cannot be reactive and selective. It must be consistent, professional and accessible. Public officials must understand that responding to media enquiries is not a favour to journalists; it is part of public service. Citizens have a right to know how decisions are made, how public funds are spent and whether promises are being fulfilled. The joy is that the Eighth Administration knows this.
This concern is particularly visible at the regional level, where some regional councillors continue to avoid the media for reasons best known to themselves. Such behaviour is unfortunate and unacceptable. Councillors are elected to serve communities, oversee development and report back to the people who entrusted them with leadership. Avoiding the media amounts to avoiding accountability.
The media remains one of the fastest and most effective channels through which leaders can communicate with the electorate. Communities want to know about development projects, service delivery, challenges and progress in their regions. Silence from elected representatives only widens the gap between leaders and the people they serve.
Importantly, the expectations placed on the country’s leadership are not hidden. The priorities of the eighth administration are documented and publicly available. This means both the media and ordinary citizens have clear reference points against which to measure progress and ask questions. Leaders are not operating in a vacuum. They have mandates, targets and responsibilities that are open to public scrutiny.
In this regard, journalists should never be viewed as troublemakers for asking difficult questions. The media’s role is to inform the public, hold power accountable and contribute to national discourse. Equally, government leaders should not be viewed with suspicion when they engage openly with the press. Constructive engagement strengthens democracy.
Namibia’s strong media freedom ranking should therefore not become a reason for complacency. It should instead inspire both government and the media to deepen mutual respect and professionalism. A free press and responsive leadership are not opposing forces.
They are partners in nation-building.
The real measure of democracy is not whether government receives praise, but whether it can tolerate scrutiny, criticism and difficult conversations while remaining committed to openness. Yesterday’s meeting showed encouraging signs that Namibia understands this principle well. The challenge now is to ensure that this spirit of openness filters through every office, ministry and regional council in the country.