Govt. to review drop in press freedom ranking

WINDHOEK, 08 MAY  – The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) will sanction a review and analysis on the steady decline of Namibia’s press freedom ranking.
Minister Stanley Simataa announced this during the 2018 World Press Freedom Day celebrations here Tuesday under the theme ‘Keeping power in check: Media, Justice and the Rule of Law’.
Simataa said the ministry would devise interventions once the review is completed to ensure Namibia breaks through to the top 10 positions in the World Press Freedom ranking.
Namibia is currently in 26th position, from 24 last year. Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Finland and Switzerland are ranked top five.
He said this would be done while the ministry expedites the pending Access to Information Bill.
“The existence of a free and pluralistic media in our country has no doubt cemented the political will of our people,” Simataa said, adding that the media had deepened accountability and continue to serve as a battle for good governance, thus the latest rankings serve as a cause of concern for Government.
The celebration of World Press Freedom Day in Namibia started on 25 April with public lectures and training sessions, and concluded with an official ceremony and a panel discussion on Tuesday.
World Press Freedom Day, observed globally on 03 May, originated in the Windhoek Declaration on promoting an independent and pluralistic press, adopted in Namibia in 1991.

NAMPA