Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Tweya clarifies stance on media freedom

Home Front Page News Tweya clarifies stance on media freedom

Windhoek

Information and Communication Technology Minister Tjekero Tweya has dismissed assertions that he is a potential threat to media freedom or access to information in Namibia, as widely hinted lately in the press.

Tweya also denied allegations that he is working against his declaration of intent and subsequent performance agreement, which was signed between him and President Hage Geingob.

He then poured scorn over perceptions that he has a vendetta against the media who had in the past reported about allegations of him acquiring a piece of land in a communal area, saying he is a public official, who does not mix his personal feelings with his work.

“The sponsors of such untruth stooped so low and forgot that since my declaration I mobilised all resources at my disposal to craft a thorough Access to Information Bill [through a consultative workshop] attended by all stakeholders for my submission to the National Assembly,” Tweya said.

“It took a whole a week to build consensus for the envisaged Bill. This shows that government is committed to free media and access to it by all Namibians,” said the information minister.

“How can I become the source of a potential threat to media freedom and/or access to information in Namibia?” he asked, before stating that access to information has never been a luxury item, but a basic tenet for the public good.

Tweya said the media has been a natural government partner by informing, educating and entertaining the public.
It is his opinion that with an unfettered environment for media freedom there would be no success in the government’s pursuit of the noble cause of providing access to information. “However, it can never be denied that our colleagues in the media many a times strayed into abusing this duty of informing and violated people [and] institutions’ rights and characters.”

He said as a responsible public servant and custodian of media and information dissemination in the country, he is dutybound to issue a cautionary note to those who violate media ethics by accessing information and who use it for untoward purposes.

“Slanderous reporting and other non-progressive tendencies should not be used as tools to get market by print and electronic media, thereby losing an opportunity to effectively and purposefully inform society,” the minister urged.

“People the world over are yearning for peace, which they don’t have. We have peace. Let’s reject calls by some members of the society who are still worshipping tribalism, racism, etc,” he said.

“In the spirit of Harambee, let’s join hands and march for a better and prosperous Namibia, as our President calls on us all to unite and fight the enemy of poverty and for a prosperous Namibia for all.”