OSHAKATI - The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology held an engagement with regional and local authorities of Oshana, Ohangwena, Omusati and Oshikoto to hear their concerns and gauge views on the government’s communications strategy.
Currently, there is no uniform communication in government institutions, which ICT minister Peya Mushelenga said leads to contradicting statements from the same government.
The strategy will thus serve as a communications guideline for government and its institutions to the public between now and 2027.
“Give one voice on information, which is accurate and comprehensive,” Mushelenga said at the engagement held at the Oshana Regional Council on Wednesday.
He thus encouraged those who are tasked with the responsibility to speak on behalf of government and its institutions to play a watchdog role to ensure that the public receives authentic information at all times.
“Misinformation and disinformation about government programmes, policies and actions need to be corrected with those tasked with disseminating information,” he added.
In the same vein, the minister encouraged spokespersons to be proactive and provide information without waiting to be asked.
This would ensure access to communication for all, and at the same time also show that there is nothing to hide.
He likewise discouraged the shelving of information meant for the public.
Also speaking at the same event, Oshana regional governor Elia Irimari said the flow of information to the public is vital in fostering democracy.
He observed that the strategy would empower and educate the public to understand its rights to access to information, the functioning of public entities, and to encourage public participation in the decision-making process.
“The government’s communications strategy and the access to information policy will, therefore, pave the way for the establishment of systems and a law to regulate access to information in Namibia. It will also promote transparency, accountability and effective governance,” Irimari noted.
To achieve effective and efficient communication, the executive director at MICT Audrin Mathe said spokespersons and information officers in the ministry would be retrained in speech writing, and to enable them to be able to write news adequately.
Spokespeople in attendance pleaded with the MICT to ensure heads of institutions and seniors buy into the strategy to allow them to conform to the strategy.
The public relations officers said their job is overlooked, and they are reduced to minute-takers during meetings in the workplace.
* Nuusita Ashipala is an information officer at MICT Oshana.