Community radio elects new directorate

Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, Hon Stanley Simataa has called on community broadcasters to take maximum advantage of the improved ICT infrastructure to expand the existing bouquet of services they provide. The deputy minister recently addressed the first Annual General Meeting of the Namibia Community Broadcasters Network Trust at the TBN Studios in Windhoek. Community broadcasters present at the AGM, elected Marco Ndlovu (Base FM)as the chairperson of the Directorate to be assisted by Peingondjabi Sheya (Ohangwena Community Radio), Johannes Orr (Kharas Community Radio), Lot Ndamanomhata (UNAM Radio) and Julius Mtemahanji (Poly – Echoes) The AGM also had preentations from various community media partners, such as the UNESCO Cluster Office, MISA Namibia, DW Academie and the Media Ombudsman. Simataa further stated  “I must acknowledge that in spite of the modest progress made, Namibia is still faced with a host of ICT challenges most notably persistent lack of ICT penetration in rural areas given the geographical distances and perpetual lack of electricity which hinders ICT adoption and which by extension perpetuates the existing digital divide between urban and rural areas. That notwithstanding, we will continue with the ICT roll-out that we have established and constantly engage ICT stakeholders on how best these and many other challenges not stated, can be addressed.”