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Namibia/Zimbabwe: Top government officials verbally attack MISA
Pambazuka
August 28, 2003
High-ranking
government officials in both Namibia and Zimbabwe have lashed out
recently against the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA).
MISA reports
that, on 14 August, Namibian President Sam Nujoma launched a verbal
attack against the organisation as well as "The Namibian" newspaper
and its editor, Gwen Lister. The president condemned MISA, which
he said was only out to insult him and other heads of state, and
accused "The Namibian" and MISA of being "unprofessional" and "reactionary."
Nujoma also instructed reporter Andreas Frai of the Namibia Broadcasting
Corporation (NBC) not to work with MISA anymore.
Following the
president's remarks, the government cancelled its planned participation
in the Namibian Media Awards scheduled for 20 August, reports "The
Namibian." An Information Ministry official denied speculation that
this apparent snub of MISA illustrated growing government intolerance
of the organisation and the independent media. MISA-Namibia has
recently criticised the way NBC is regulated and called for changes
to the draft Communications Bill.
Meanwhile, MISA
reports that Zimbabwean Minister of State for Information and Publicity
Jonathan Moyo accused the press-freedom organisation on 20 August
of promoting "misunderstanding" between the government and the private
media. Moyo alleged that international donors are using MISA to
promote reports that Zimbabwe's private media are operating in a
hostile environment. MISA says the Public Order and Security Act
(POSA) and the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act
(AIPPA), both enacted in 2002, are "forcing the media in Zimbabwe
to operate in a very restrictive legislative environment".
In an earlier
incident on 8 August, a group of young men, including members of
the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF),
brutally assaulted journalist Flata Kavinga, report MISA and the
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). The men accused the "The
Midlands Observer" reporter of supporting the opposition Movement
for Democratic Change (MDC) because he was wearing a MISA t-shirt.
After being discharged from hospital, Kavinga went into hiding to
avoid further reprisals, reports CPJ.
Follow these
links for more information on:
Namibia:
Zimbabwe:
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