State of the media in Southern Africa - 2003 NAMIBIA Press Statement August 7, 2003 TOPIC: Draft Communications Bill T he Namibia Chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA Namibia) wishes to express its concern at the government’s reluctance to transform the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) into a Public Service Broadcaster (PSB). These reservations were expressed by the Information and Broadcasting Minister Nangolo Mbumba at a workshop about the Draft Communications Bill in Windhoek on Thursday, July 24, 2003. The NBC is currently regulated by the NBC Act which contains remnants of the previous SWABC Act that facilitated the operation of a propaganda machine by the previous regime. Under the current Act the Minister of Information and Broadcasting has virtually unrestrained power to appoint the NBC’s board. This at best compromises the independence of the NBC and at worst could lead to unacceptable levels of executive interference in the editorial content and programming of the state broadcaster. The Minister cited widespread corruption at parastatals and government’s significant financial contribution to the broadcaster as reasons for not relinquishing control of the NBC. We submit, however, that the appointment of an independent regulator through a transparent and participatory process is the surest way to prevent corruption from taking further root. Furthermore, the money which the minister refers to as government money is, in fact, money entrusted to it by the public. MISA-Namibia has made a submission to the National Communications Commission and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to include the regulation of the NBC under the Communications Authority of Namibia (CAN) which will be established when the Draft Communications Bill is enacted. The African Charter on Broadcasting that is the key policy blueprint to guide broadcasting and regulation, and it provides that the Public Broadcaster is governed by an Independent Board, protecting it from political and economic interference, and we call on the Namibian Government to take these principles into account when deciding on the regulation of the NBC. It also provides for the three tiers of broadcasting: community, commercial and public. Government has committed itself to accepting and implementing this principle in terms of recognizing community broadcasting as a distinct and equally important component of the industry. Its lack of foresight regarding public broadcasting, however, is cause for concern and will undermine the promotion of a diverse and plural Namibian media. Enquiries: MISA NAMIBIA Mrs Tanya Menges (National Director) Mrs Carmen Cupido (Information Officer) 12 Feld Street off Thorer Street Maerua Park P.O Box 86075, Eros, Windhoek Tel: 00 (264 61) 236069 Fax: 00 (246 61) 236054 E-mail: misanam@mweb.com.na So This Is Democracy? 2003 134 Media Institute of Southern Africa