Stefanus Nashama
Journalists from different media houses in the Oshana region were initially barred from entering Andimba Toivo ya Toivo Airport in Ondangwa on Thursday while covering the arrival of the late founding president Sam Nujoma’s body.
They claimed Police officers and members of the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) only allowed reporters from the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) on the tarmac.
Hellen Andreas, a reporter from Shipi FM, described a heated exchange with the police.
“I had to push hard to go into the airport. I did not surrender because I was doing it for the listeners and followers of the Shipi FM,” Andreas said.
She said it was not the first time she had been blocked while covering news.
“I was pushed by an NDF member who said they were doing their job. The members also said they were informed to only allow reporters from NBC,” said Andreas.
Andreas said the incident reflected a lack of understanding of media freedom.
“It was embarrassing being pushed. Although the situation was resolved, it was not good at all,” she stressed.
In Windhoek, journalists from independent media houses were barred from taking pictures of mourners as they were viewing the remains of the founding president at his residence in the Avis neighbourhood.
This is while NBC was allowed to livestream the event.
“Ambassador Ipumbu, who was the master of ceremonies, when he saw us taking videos and pictures, rushed to us and threatened to confiscate our devices. He demanded that we delete the footage and leave the house,” said Ester Mbathera of the Windhoek Observer and Shelleygan Petersen of The Namibian.
The two left the house and moved on to the Hosea Kutako International Airport, where they said they experienced no issues.
Toivo Ndjebela, the editor of the Namibian Sun, criticized the preferential treatment of NBC reporters, saying the public should have equal access to news from all media outlets.
“The irony of this behaviour is that President Sam Nujoma fought so hard for all Namibians to be treated equally. The Namibian public consumes news from media outlets of their choice, and not only NBC. Therefore, the discrimination against certain media houses reverses the very gains that President Nujoma bravely fought for,” he said.
Ndjebela also said Nujoma would not have condoned such treatment.
“For the police to conduct themselves in this manner in the name of Sam Nujoma is to discredit his noble achievements and to deny the Namibian public an opportunity to follow his memorial service using media platforms of their choice,” he said.
Edward Mumbuu, editor of New Era, also called for fair treatment of journalists.
“We expect fair treatment of all journalists and media houses,” Mumbuu said.
He, however, advised journalists to follow established guidelines.
“Events like this have strict guidelines and rules, and we expect all journalists to respect them,” Mumbuu said.
Wonder Guchu of One Africa Television said more clarity was needed before labelling the situation as discrimination.
“I cannot rush to conclude that what happened was discrimination because there was no program shared on the coverage of the procession of Nujoma’s body,” Guchu explained.
He suggested that better coordination and accreditation for all journalists involved might have alleviated confusion.
