NBC duo censured over ‘censorship’

TWO NBC radio employees have been taken to task by the corporation for trying to censor the broadcaster’s popular ‘National Chat Show’.

Veteran presenter Tebs Xulu and radio manager Corry Tjaveondja were both rapped over the knuckles on Tuesday, after Xulu announced on the show earlier that day that callers would not be allowed to discuss issues concerning either the ruling party Swapo or the newly formed Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP). This announcement was made on the day the Swapo congress started in Windhoek.The Media Institute for Southern Africa (Misa) issued a media alert, protesting against Xulu’s remarks.It prompted an apology from the NBC’s Acting Director General, Umbi Karuaihe-Upi.Karuaihe-Upi said the two employees had violated the rights of citizens who wanted to freely express their opinions and exercise their rights under the Namibian Constitution.She said that the two had “overstepped their boundaries by making unauthorised and untruthful statements on the national broadcaster”.”We regret the incident and the involved parties have been reprimanded according to NBC disciplinary rules and regulations,” she said.Following the NBC’s response, both Misa and the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) congratulated the NBC for its stance.”We hope that this historical swift and unambiguous corrective measure …will send a loud and clear signal for any other NBC presenters that blatant violation of any citizen’s right to freedom of expression and opinion will no longer be brooked by the national broadcaster,” NSHR executive director Phil Ya Nangoloh said.Misa’s National Director Mathew Haikali also commended the NBC “for their swift response” following Misa’s alert.This announcement was made on the day the Swapo congress started in Windhoek.The Media Institute for Southern Africa (Misa) issued a media alert, protesting against Xulu’s remarks.It prompted an apology from the NBC’s Acting Director General, Umbi Karuaihe-Upi.Karuaihe-Upi said the two employees had violated the rights of citizens who wanted to freely express their opinions and exercise their rights under the Namibian Constitution.She said that the two had “overstepped their boundaries by making unauthorised and untruthful statements on the national broadcaster”.”We regret the incident and the involved parties have been reprimanded according to NBC disciplinary rules and regulations,” she said.Following the NBC’s response, both Misa and the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) congratulated the NBC for its stance.”We hope that this historical swift and unambiguous corrective measure …will send a loud and clear signal for any other NBC presenters that blatant violation of any citizen’s right to freedom of expression and opinion will no longer be brooked by the national broadcaster,” NSHR executive director Phil Ya Nangoloh said.Misa’s National Director Mathew Haikali also commended the NBC “for their swift response” following Misa’s alert.