WINDHOEK – New Era Publication Corporation (NEPC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Zambia Daily Mail Limited (ZDM) in Windhoek yesterday.
The agreement is aimed at cooperation in skills development, as well as the sharing of editorial content. The cooperation is expected to enable readers in Zambia and Namibia to be kept abreast of happenings in the two neighbouring countries. The agreement will also see the two state-owned media houses share administrative experience, as well as training with plans to implement the plans immediately.
Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Joël Kaapanda, said the signing of the agreement is an important occasion between the two media houses, because of the long history between the two sisterly nations. “Zambia was a second home to Namibians during the war of liberation,” said Kaapanda, adding that many Namibians enjoyed political and material support, as well as unlimited hospitality and friendship from the people of Zambia during the liberation struggle. In addition, the minister said, Zambia supported Namibia in the establishment of institutions and “seconded experts to assist in setting up institutions,” offering as an example the Namibia Institute of Public Administration and Management (Nipam), as well as many Zambian professionals employed in various government institutions.
The minister added that Namibia promised to forge an unbreakable bond of friendship and cooperation after independence in areas such as the economy, politics, trade, education and health among others and the signing of the agreement between the two state-owned media houses is a realisation of that bond. “Today we are witnessing another milestone in the area of cooperation,” he said, emphasising that the memorandum of understanding would promote regional integration and that no other instrument can realise this better than the media.
ZDM Managing Director Isaac Chipampe said there is very little Namibian news filtering through to Zambia, and added that the agreement would enhance the sharing of news between the two media houses, as well as improve on capacity building.
NEPC Chief Executive Officer, Dr Audrin Mathe, also welcomed the agreement saying Zambia has one of the largest archives about Namibia and he hoped to have New Era tap into and access that large database, which is historically significant.
Zambian High Commissioner to Namibia, Wendy Sinkala, echoed Kaapanda’s sentiments on bilateral cooperation, saying landlocked Zambia benefits from Namibia through its dry port at Walvis Bay, which is a unique facility that has opened up that country to the sea. She added that it is commendable for the governments of both countries to engage in south-south cooperation, since this would drive the efforts of poverty alleviation and economic development.
“Approximately 1 500 Zambians live in Namibia and most are students in Namibia’s tertiary [education institutions],” she said, explaining that this is an indication of how close the two countries are. “It is also our second home,” said Sinkala of Namibia. Kaapanda made reference to other bilateral cooperation efforts between the two countries such as the Walvis Bay Corridor, which facilitates the movement of goods and services between the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia and Namibia via the Trans-Caprivi Highway. Moreover, Kaapanda said the latest agreement would have no financial implications for government, adding however that both media houses will have to consider their financial standing before taking on any endeavours. He emphasised that the agreement is not comparable to the joint venture between the Namibian and Zimbabwean governments, which saw the establishment of the weekly Southern Times newspaper.
14 Aug 2013 – Story by Lorraine Kazondovi