Windhoek
President Hage Geingob is set to introduce a communication strategy that is expected to create a platform for media practitioners to join the government in mapping out the Harambee Prosperity Plan (HPP).
This was revealed recently in parliament by the Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Tjekero Tweya, who is also the government spokesperson.
He said that when the president unveils the HPP in the state of the nation address next week, he will also launch what would be known as the 360 Communication Strategy, where the media as the fourth estate will be roped into rolling out the plan.
Tweya explained that this is in line with the spirit of inclusiveness in the Namibian house on the what, when and how to provide Namibian citizens with information on empowerment, development and prosperity through balanced, factual and timely reporting on the national agenda.
Furthermore, he said, Namibia can pride itself by consistently maintaining her position as the number 1 country in media freedom in Africa and climbing heights to number 14 from 17 on the international level.
While commending the media on informing, educating and entertaining the public through information dissemination, he urged journalists to improve their content and ensure that the country tell its own stories.
Tweya said that under the spirit of national pride and HPP, media practitioners must make sure that people have access to information that will help them participate in the development of their country.
He believes every empowerment starts with information, and therefore it is a responsibility to avail information to the public.
He said that there is a need for all to remember that access to information is a right and not a privilege, hence the obligation to ensure that citizens have access to information at all times.
On social media, Tweya noted that those platforms have become a powerful tool of communication and more so that it is the fastest communication and interactive tool the world ever has known.
However, he said that while social media is embraced, he warned that one should guard against the dangers caused by these technologies – such as cyber-crime, child sexual exploitation and other human rights violations committed through technology.