On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day 2024, President Nangolo Mbumba emphasised the importance of upholding the ethics of journalism in a democratic nation and highlighted the role of journalists in society.
Every year, 3 May is a date on which the world celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom, to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence, and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.
The 2024 day is commemorated under the theme “A Press for the Planet: Protecting Journalists and Scientists in Defence of the Environment,”.
Mbumba reaffirmed Namibia’s high ranking in press freedom both in Africa and globally, attributing it to the country’s constitutional guarantees of freedom of speech and the press.
“As a nation, we made this commitment in the Constitution out of our historical experiences, where the fundamental freedoms and rights of the majority of Namibians were denied. Therefore, the commitment of the government to press freedom is cherished, and we will continue to live by the law,” said Mbumba.
Amidst climate emergencies such as recurrent droughts and floods, Mbumba urged journalists to utilise their right to educate and inform the public, particularly on environmental issues affecting Namibians’ livelihoods and infrastructure.
He emphasised the role of the media in advancing environmental protection, prosperity, and development in Namibia.
The UN General Assembly declared World Press Freedom Day in 1993 after adopting a recommendation at the twenty-sixth session of UNESCO’s General Conference in 1991.
This in turn was a response to a call by African journalists who, in 1991, produced the landmark Windhoek Declaration.
Reporter
Hertta-Maria Amutenja
