The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology has denied that it played a role in the suspension of government newspaper managing editor Johnathan Beukes.
Beukes was suspended by the state-owned New Era Publication Corporation (NEPC) on Friday, allegedly without being informed of the charges against him.
The suspension is to be in force until the end of October.
On Wednesday, The Namibian reported that there are allegations that information minister Peya Mushelenga and the information ministry’s executive director, Audrin Mathe, are being accused of playing a role in the move.
“It should be noted that neither the minister nor the executive director are involved or interfere with the daily operations of the NEPC,” said the current acting executive director of the information ministry, Elizabeth Kamutuezu, on Wednesday afternoon.
Kamutuezu said the operations of New Era are directed and managed by the New Era Publication Corporation’s board of directors and management.
“Equally, there are processes, systems and procedures that need to be followed and the authorities are vested with these powers. Consequently, the ministry will thus not be dragged into operational issues of NEPC,” Kamutuezu said.
This is a developing story.
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