In a statement MISA-Namibia says it strongly opposes any suggesting
scrapping, controlling or censoring information in the public domain.Â
MISA-Namibia says while agreeing that there is a need for the programme
to professionalized, it is important to recognize that the chat shows
were established to provide the citizens of the country with an avenue
to express their concerns.
MISA-Namibia adds that it regrets that the cancellation of the morning
chat shows comes at a time that MISA had successful engaged the
Ministry of information Communication and technology on the need to
facilitate the training of moderators for chat shows, as well as the
transformation of the NBC.
The statement further states that MISA Namibia Chairperson, Ms Sandra
Williams had, during the meeting with the Minister of Information, Joel
Kaapanda, a few weeks ago, advised that the programme not be removed
but that it should be professionalized.
With the upcoming elections, there is need for citizens to speak out
and raise concerns; this is a sign of a matured democracy. Although
people do not agree, they can agree to disagree, and NBC must put
mechanism in place which includes competent, professional moderators
and clear guidelines for the programme, reads the statement.
Closing down the programnme should not be an option; NBC management
should look at other avenue to address the concerns highlighted. Taking
away the chat shows is like taking away the land mark of freedom of
expression in 19 year old democracy, and raises the questions about
Namibia's commitment to freedom of expression, says MISA-Namibia
Director Mathew Haikali.
While the media should adhere strictly to the ethics of journalism and
ensure that these are kept to the highest standards, MISA Namibia would
like to repeat the call we made early last year, that the citizen
should show restrain in using the NBC platforms rather than NBC
suppressing the programmes.
MISAÂ
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