3rd Briefing Paper on Digital Inclusion for Youth Democratic Participation in Namibia
2024-02-12
It is no secret that the Namibian political landscape has long faced persistent criticism for its noticeable absence of youthful voices in crucial political and decision-making bodies. In recent years, however, there has been a noteworthy transformation in the Namibian political space, not only have the youth become more civically engaged, but the political space is absorbing more youth. This shift is evident in the increased involvement of young individuals in key decision-making processes, marked by the rise of youth-led advocacy groups addressing diverse social and political concerns. This brief has been put together following the 5th #YouthQuake Namibia conference in 2023, in response to these evolving dynamics. As we head towards National elections, this briefing paper will explore youth inclusion within the digital sphere and its role in enhancing their democratic participation. The paper also seeks to understand the impact of the digital divide on youth engagement in Namibia's democratic processes.
Thoughts About the State of the Media ... Freest Press, Best Journalism?
2024-01-19
NMT chairperson, Gwen Lister, spoke at the Awards Ceremony of the inaugural #BreakFree Media Awards. The One Economy Foundation, as part of its #BreakFree Anti-Violence campaign, convened a summit at The Weinberg Hotel on January 19, 2024, bringing together 50 media practitioners to address Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Femicide, and Reproductive Health Rights. The purpose of this gathering was to provide comprehensive training, equipping media professionals with the essential knowledge, skills, and ethical framework required for proficient reporting and heightened awareness on crucial issues pertaining to GBV, Femicide, and Reproductive Health Rights. The summit culminated in the inaugural #BreakFree Media Awards Ceremony, marking a significant milestone in recognizing and celebrating impactful media contributions in these critical areas. Pictured is Selma Iyambo, a fellow of the NMT's Podcast Bootcamp, who was the runner-up and winner in the Digital Media category for her podcast, Sex Talks.
Empowering persons with disabilities
2023-07-31
The Namibia Media Trust (NMT) has launched a project to empower persons with disabilities in Namibia. The project aims to help enable them to actively participate in democratic processes and develop critical media production and literacy skills for self-advocacy. The NMT believes that decisions concerning persons with disabilities are legitimate only if those affected by them have an equal opportunity to participate in the decision-making process. The project will establish an inclusive and accessible information-sharing platform to help beneficiaries exercise their rights to access information. Over three months, the NMT plans to create a newsletter run by persons with disabilities, in which they can share multimedia content, address relevant issues, and advocate for the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities in Namibian society. The project focuses on skills development and aims to ensure the long-term sustainability of the platform for promoting access to information and self-advocacy.
2nd Briefing Paper on Transforming Quality and Reliable ATI into Reality for Youth with Disabilities
2022-10-24
Access to Information (ATI) is an essential tool for youth, who are one of the biggest population groups in Namibia. It is a critical aspect in empowering youth with disabilities as a vulnerable and marginalised community. The discrimination and denial of access to information rights for youth with disabilities can be found globally. But, developing countries like Namibia face more challenges such as severe resource constraints, making it more difficult to provide for access to information needs. This is in addition to numerous other contributing factors ranging from a lack of limited interest from the youth themselves to engage in law reform and consultation processes, a weak reading culture and a lack of reasonable accommodation among others. In this paper, we look at how ATI can become a collective reality for Namibia’s diverse youth demographic.
YOUTH - Youth economic emancipation in post independent Namibia (Edition 16)
2022-08-03
IN his book ‘How Nations Rise’ renowned author, Manjari Chaterjee Miller, highlights that the development of a country’s economic power is probably the fastest way to achieve this. This development needs to ensure that economic resources are in the hands of the citizens, and now more importantly the youth. Presidential advisor, Daisry Mathias, says resources alone will not raise the nation and the youth, but the development of the young people’s capacity and capabilities to lead, manage and implement effectively, and in line with the development agenda, will be what will have Namibia rise. “This requires the full commitment and participation of young people, as they are sup- ported to realise their potential,” she said. Namibia has a high unemployment rate, and despite Namibia, having one of the youngest populations in Africa, fears early this year were that it could breach over 50 % youth un- employment rate.
Journalism For Democracy in Southern Africa
2022-06-23
Veteran journalist and founder of The Namibian Gwen Lister was awarded the German Africa Foundation's 'Honorary Award' on June 1, 2022. The Namibia Media Trust's board chairperson received the award to recognise her courageous and critical reporting on South Africa's apartheid policies in Namibia, and her exceptional commitment to press freedom.
Lister, in her acceptance speech, thanked the German Africa Foundation for recognising journalism's essential role in building better societies.
YOUTH - The Dreams project gives young women a fresh start in Zambezi region (Edition 15)
2022-06-15
TEN young women from the Zambezi region will benefit from Dreams Namibia’s donation of dishwashing liquid production kits, which will help them get their businesses off the ground. These beneficiaries from disadvantaged backgrounds completed a three- month course with the assistance of Dreams and can become self-sufficient. Dreams, is a Project Hope sub-project aimed at empowering adolescent girls and young women aged 10 to 24 to achieve their full potential. The project is funded by the US President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar) through the US Agency for Inter- national Development (USAID) and sup- ported by the Peace Corps. The beneficiaries, who are mostly young mothers, noted that they see this as a second chance at life, as they had lost hope of bettering their lives in the past be- cause of poverty.
YOUTH - Young Namibian journalists uncertain about their future (Edition 14)
2022-05-18
YOUNG journalists in the country are unsure of their future in the industry citing toxic newsroom cultures and dissatisfaction with working environments as reasons to leave. With World Press Freedom Day celebrated under the theme ‘Journalism under siege’, young writers reflect on their time in the industry and how long they will stay. Studies have shown that dissatisfaction with pay, job demands and high levels of stress are whittling away at the commitment of young journalists. They have expressed uncertainty about how long they will hold on to their passion in spite of the challenges in journalism. Radio journalist Justicia Shipena, who has been in the industry for five years, says she’s uncertain about her future in journalism
YOUTH - Education remains essential to development (Edition 13)
2022-04-20
GROWING up in a society where you are bound to work very hard to reach your goals and objectives, many of us draw inspiration from those who have made it through the academic journey. Most young people can relate to this as the basis of their inspiration. The aim is to be- come somebody in society through a career path of your choice. It is how the channel has been: school, graduation and employment and eventually family to marriage.
YOUTH - A space to explore new media ideas and concepts (Edition 12)
2022-03-16
THE Namibia Media Trust (NMT) is offering a group of journalists and media professionals in Namibia a unique opportunity to develop ideas and concepts that will benefit the news media sector, and audiences, through its training programme, the NXT Journalism HUB. This NMT training programme is based on trying out new forms, ideas, and concepts in the media space, and is funded by the Dual, a vocational training programme for journalists between DW Akademie and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).
YOUTH - No radio for San community since independence (Edition 11)
2022-02-16
IT may be difficult for any Namibian to believe that there are still people who cannot listen to the radio, but this is the truth for the San community living in western Zambezi. The San tribe is a minority ethnic group recognised as a marginalised population due to their disproportionate poverty. Sonner Geria, a community member, told The Quake that they had not enjoyed access to information since independence because there is no transmission in their area, and pleaded with the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) to provide it. Despite this hurdle, the people of Cheto have created an online-based radio station that will promote their language and cultural values in the meanwhile, thanks to sponsorship. “We might not be able to know what is happening in the world but we would like the world to know about us through this radio station,” said Geria.
Saving Journalism and Engendering Trust through Activism
2022-01-31
NMT Chairperson Gwen Lister delivered the 2022 Barry Streek Memorial Lecture at the Cape Town Press Club on Wednesday, January 22, 2022. She spoke about the complicated relationship between journalism and activism.
YOUTH - A new safe haven for street children (Edition 10)
2022-01-19
FARM Kaukurus is set to become the new haven for children living and working on the streets. In November last year, the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare announced plans to con- struct a farm in Omaheke region to create a safe space where the children can be part of programmes and activities needed for rehabilitation. The farm will also have children with “problem behaviours as well as children in conflict with the law especially if one considers that the problem of street children might not be countless”. The gender ministry plans to work with the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture to administer all matters related to learning activities at the centre. Over the last year, 154 children living and working on the streets have been taken back to the classroom.
1st Briefing Paper on Youth Participation in National Agenda Through Mass Media
2021-12-17
The Namibia Media Trust (NMT) has released its first briefing paper as part of its youth development project, #YouthQuakeNamibia. Namibia's youth are accused of not being active enough in the country's post-colonial dispensation, as is the case elsewhere in Africa. As a result, they are excluded from policy and legislative decision-making, resulting in policies that are not focused on the needs of youth. This paper begins with a definition of "youth" and proceeds to analyse ageism in the democratic system of the country. It further compares and contrasts the attitudes and behaviours of younger and older generations on key political attributes such as democracy, preference and satisfaction, civic and political participation, government performance views, trust in political institutions, and public policy preferences.
YOUTH - Youth, national affairs and mass media (Edition 9)
2021-12-15
THE Namibia Media Trust (NMT), through its youth development initiative #YouthQuakeNam, has launched its first briefing paper, which pertains to youth participation in Namibia’s national and civic affairs through mass media. As is the case elsewhere in Africa, Namibia’s youth are accused of not being active enough in the country’s post-colonial dispensation. This is due to their exclusion from policy and legislative decision making, which results in a policy that is not focused on the youth and their agenda. The launch of the briefing paper titled: Youth Participation in National Agenda Through Mass Media was facilitated in a vodcast format, discussing the concept of youth, how the youth has no distinct agenda for public policy, as well as how their participation in public affairs is the lowest of all generations so far.
YOUTH - We can’t imagine life without fishing (Edition 8)
2021-11-17
FISHING is the primary means of income and a food source for many villagers of Zambezi region. These villagers make a living on the banks of the Zambezi, Chobe, Linyanti and Kwando rivers, as well as at Lake Liambezi. Zambezi region is famously known for the tilapia (Zambezi bream), though the rivers are also home to other species such as tiger fish, catfish, African pike, and nembwe to mention a few. The Quake caught up with George Mafwila (33), a fisherman living in Kasika village of Kabbe South constituency, who noted that he has been fishing on the Chobe river since he was 12 years old. “Fishing is our way of living, I cannot imagine my life without it,” he said.
YOUTH - Tulonga Foundation looks out for young girls with special needs (Edition 7)
2021-10-20
AROUND 26 young girls with disabilities and from disadvantaged backgrounds are due to go for a six-month mentorship programme sponsored by the Tulonga Foundation. This was announced in the capital earlier this month after the foundation graduated its former scholars, and introduced a new cohort. (A cohort is a group of people sharing a particular characteristic.Tulonga Foundation is a welfare organisation that provides tutoring, counselling, mentorship and coaching programmes to pupils with disabilities and young girls from disadvantaged backgrounds. Founder, Hilya Mwatiledu, said the organisation, started in 2019, aims to help and equip young people from marginalised communities.
YOUTH - Learners’ experience of Covid-19 (Edition 6)
2021-09-21
AFTER losing almost 54% of their school year, high school learners feel displaced returning to the classrooms especially with their friendships. The surge of Covid-19 infections has led to classes opening and closing more than four times in the last 18 months. Paulus Kueyo, the head boy of Ella du Plessis Secondary School, said the first few days after returning to class were difficult, especially reconnecting with his friends. “Going back to school, I saw things change. My friends who were girls became distant and later I realised they were pregnant or something else happened. I felt bad. I felt very bad. I saw how Covid-19 forced my friends to drop out of school.
NMT submission on Namibia’s National Cybersecurity & Awareness Plan (2022–20
2021-09-16
In September 2021, the Namibia Media Trust reviewed the Namibia National Cybersecurity Strategy & Awareness Raising Plan 2022-2027: A Step towards Cyber Resilience & Digital Security for its compliance with regional and international human rights standards.
YOUTH - Activist urges women to speak up against sexual abuse (Edition 5)
2021-08-18
WOMEN and the girl-child are mostly at the receiving end of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) on a daily basis in Zambezi region and the nation at large. As such Tebogo Nyama, 21, has decided to take a stand against SGBV by empowering women and girls to get back their voices and not suffer in silence. Nyama was raised by her mother, as her father passed away, and being brought up alone by her mother made her realise how strong women are and what an important role they play in society. “I am passionate about being a voice of hope for adolescent girls and young women who have lost their self-worth. From a very young age, even in school, I participated in clubs that brought awareness to issues facing young women in society.
YOUTH - Covid shuts down youth-owned businesses (Edition 4)
2021-07-21
HAVING the courage to open a business as a youth is tough on its own, but keeping it open proved to be difficult for many youth in the Zambezi region after the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak. Since the outbreak in March 2020 in Namibia, all businesses across the board were affected. However, the pressure was felt mostly by those deemed non-essential which had to be shut down in accordance with the Covid-19 regulations. Samuel Thapelo (32), who spoke to The Quake, noted that he opened his restaurant and boutique businesses in 2018, and things were moving smoothly until the pandemic hit and he had to shut down.
YOUTH - Namibia’s youngest electric rocket scientist shares his stellar dream (Edition 3)
2021-06-16
SENIOR Shimhanda, 27, is not only the youngest, if not the first electric rocket scientist in Namibia, but the first native Namibian to graduate with a master’s degree in space engineering. Last year alone, Shimhanda graduated from two universities in different countries, earning a masters’ in space engineering from the Japanese Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech) in Japan, and another in environmental engineering at Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust). This made him one of the youngest lecturers in Namibia, taking up a post at Nust to lecture ‘Energy Conversion’.
Democracy in the Post-Truth Era – a Namibian Case Study
2018-11-16
Figuratively speaking, we need to run onto a few more muddy rugby fields and make a united stand to rescue society from the destructive forces of disinformation, lies and propaganda. To continue to speak truth to power. To aim to build democracies through empowered citizens, because the poor, powerless, and humiliated masses are most susceptible to the appeal of populist demagogues and authoritarians ready to exploit their plight. The pursuit of truth comes at a price, and we must be willing to pay it in order to withstand the triumph of dishonesty.
NMT Submission - 2018 ICT Review
2018-11-09
The NMT has responded to the invitation of the Ministry of Communication and Technology (MICT) to study the existing Information and Community Technology (ICT) policies and make formal submissions of any possible sections of the Communications Act and other policies that need to be repealed, amended or reviewed.
The role of African media in promoting and entrenching the ethos of the SDGs
2017-12-10
WHAT we know or do NOT know determines our response to it, WHAT IS REPORTED reported and HOW it is reported goes some way in shaping the policy and State action agenda, and has implications for the millions of people whose lives are affected. In this statement, we have reinforced and acknowledged the importance of the mass media as key drivers for the spread of information.
The Guerrilla Typewriters - Liberation Through Information
2017-09-28
The guerilla typewriters of the 80s and 90s were voices of independent African journalism who were brave and ethical and served the public interest. Many of them were brought together – thanks to UNESCO - in the Namibian capital of Windhoek in 1991 to formulate a declaration which would go on to inspire the UN to declare May 3 World Press Freedom Day.
The Voice of the Youth and Ethical Challenges Using New Media For Dialogue
2017-07-25
Social media should be used as a tool to promote accountability rather than just for personal gratification, says Gwen Lister, executive chairperson of the Namibia Media Trust. She was speaking at the Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement's critical consciousness dialogue on Tuesday. The dialogue aimed to sensitise the youth about ethical challenges related to using social media.
Government Channels & Information Flows
2017-04-04
It becomes increasingly apparent that there is a deteriorating media environment across the Commonwealth, with largely blocked government channels and impeded information flows, with few exceptions.
Fifth Gender and Media Summit - The Windhoek Declaration
2016-08-17
All too often, declarations remain simply pieces of paper filed away and forgotten. But the Windhoek Declaration is different, and its impact is still being felt today.
Fifth Gender and Media Summit - Freedom of Expression and Women in Media
2016-08-17
We are all aware that equal enjoyment of the right to freedom of expression is easier said than done. We also know this goal remains elusive, especially when it comes to historically disadvantaged groups, in particular women, but also others like refugees and indigenous and sexual minorities.
Namibia's Foreign Policy: Fit for the 21st Century?
2016-07-01
The realm of diplomacy ... is no longer an exclusive domain of governments. There are other actors on the national, regional and international scene. Public opinion is increasingly shaping foreign policy, hence the need for the Government of the Republic of Namibia to constantly communicate her position on domestic, regional and international issues.
What would an ATI law mean for Namibia? - Panel presentation
2016-06-13
Access to information is a cornerstone of democracy, and it is positive that Namibia is working on an ATI law, which once done, it is hoped, will be a ‘good’ law, appropriately implemented, fully enforced and user¬â€ÂÂfriendly.
UNESCO Blog contribution - Helsinki 2016
2016-05-03
A contribution to the official blog of Unesco for the 2016 global World Press Freedom Day celebrations.
Keynote Address - Helsinki 2016
2016-05-03
Keynote address by NMT Executive Chairperson, Gwen Lister, to the global World Press Freedom Day celebration in Helsinki, Finland, on May 3, 2016.
National Anti-Corruption Conference
2015-06-22
The more we shine a light on corruption, and if media is enabled to do so in an environment that encourages full exposure of the scourge, the less likely corruption will be able to flourish in dark places.
National Anti-Corruption Conference - Investigative Journalism can Shine a Light into Dark Places
2015-06-22
Good investigative journalism is essential in holding power accountable. Many have said this before, and many have said it better. Walter Lippman is one who, nearly a century ago, equated great journalism to the “beam of a searchlight that moves restlessly about, bringing one episode and then another, out of darkness and into vision”.
Launch of WordPress
2015-02-02
WordPress is a joint venture between the Namibia Media Trust (NMT), the owners of The Namibian and local businessman Wolfram Jauss. The company's total investment including print works, property and plant is N$69 million to date, part of which was financed by the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN).