Nakuta to fill Daniels shoes as new Ombudsman
The Editors’ Forum of Namibia (EFN) recently announced the appointment of Mr John Nakuta as the country’s new new Media Ombudsman who was appointed by a Special General Meeting held last week.
According to a statement, candidates for the position were determined through public nominations which closed on 30 June.
Nakuta teaches Administrative Law at the University of Namibia and holds graduate and post-graduate qualifications in education and law and is on course to obtain his doctorate degree in human rights law from the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands at the end of the year.
Nakuta’s past experience includes being a teacher and head of department for the Ministry of Education, Secretary General of the Namibia National Teachers’ Union (NANTU), General Marketing Manager at Trustco Group International, Coordinator: Legal Education at the Legal Assistance Centre, and Director of the Human Rights and Documentation Centre at Unam.
Nakuta holds freedom of speech and access to information, which he described as basic principles of democracy.
Meanwhile, the EFN congratulated Nakuta on his appointment and wished him the best in this new public service as he is well-skilled.
Furthermore the forum thanked the country’s first and former Media Ombudsman, Mr Clement Daniels, for his hard work and the integrity with which he fulfilled his duties.
The Special General Meeting also elected members of the public to serve on the Media Complaints Committee and the Media Appeals Committee. Their names will be announced once they have been properly informed and accepted their nominations.
Additional members from the media will be appointed on 13 September to serve on these respective Committees and a new Executive Committee will be elected on the same date.
