Angula wrestles with NBC over interview

SWAPO presidential hopeful Nahas Angula is demanding to know why an interview he sat for with the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) has not been aired yet.

In a strongly-worded letter from his lawyer to NBC director general Stanley Similo, Angula accused the state broadcaster of deliberately suppressing his interview because of “the frank, robust and hard-hitting views” that he claimed to have expressed, in order to influence the outcome of this month’s Swapo elective congress.

Angula was interviewed on 24 October by the NBC for a special programme on the three Swapo presidential candidates.

His opponents, President Hage Geingob and youth minister Jerry Ekandjo were also offered the same platform, although they have not yet been interviewed. Angula’s interview was scheduled to air on 31 October.

However, when the NBC failed to air it on the scheduled date, it dawned on Angula that the broadcaster was holding back the interview.

Upon this realisation, his lawyer, Kadhila Amoomo, wrote to Similo last week, and demanded to know why the interview had not been aired.

Amoomo also demanded in another letter that the NBC air the interview tomorrow (Tuesday, 7 October), failure which Similo will be required to provide him with a copy of the interview not later than Wednesday.

Similo responded to Amoomo’s first letter on 3 November, explaining that prior to the recording of the interview, he had a meeting with Angula, where they discussed the proposed free airtime that the NBC had decided to allocate to the contesting Swapo candidates.

He said Angula agreed that the same invitation be extended to his opponents, although he (Similo) added that one of the duo had declined the invitation.

Approached for comment yesterday, Similo told that he had stated publicly that the NBC would not give preference to any of the Swapo candidates.

“We also clearly stated that we shall endeavour to be fair to all parties in this race insofar as coverage is concerned. This particular recording was premised on an understanding that such will only be aired/broadcast should all parties be recorded,” he explained.

Similo said he had not viewed the interview, adding that the broadcaster remained firm that it would only be fair to broadcast the interview if all candidates vying for the Swapo presidency participated.

“We have since learned that some of the candidates might not be interested in participating on this platform, and as an institution, we will have to make a call in this regard, appreciating all the relevant factors. That call relates to whether to broadcast the interview and when, if so decided,” he noted.

Yesterday, Angula told that it was “unfair” that the airing of his interview depended on the availability of his two opponents.

“The NBC wasted my time and resources. If the other candidates do not want to be interviewed, they cannot be forced to do so. NBC invited me to the programme. I did not ask to be interviewed,” he said. Asked what he planned to do if the broadcaster does not air the interview, Angula said: “I reserve my rights”.

Ekandjo yesterday could not confirm or deny whether he was approached for an interview. “I will only speak to in December,” he said before hanging up.

Presidential spokesperson Albertus Aochamub yesterday responded to allegations that State House was behind the alleged suppression of Angula’s interview. “The President has bigger responsibilities than monitoring what the NBC broadcasts or does not,” he stated.

Similo also denied State House influence. “There is no way the President or any politician for that matter will direct me as director general as to what I should broadcast or not.”