Right of reply: misleading editorial titled ‘Angola’s Beef with Namibia is Getting Real’
Written by on April 18, 2024
The Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation has noted with concern an editorial in The Namibian, dated Friday, 12 April 2024, titled: ‘Angolas Beef with Namibia is Getting Real’.
The title/headline of this editorial is not only misleading, but has the potential to fuel unnecessary tension between the Republic of Angola and the Republic of Namibia.
To suggest that the cordial relationship that exists between the two countries “are in danger of collapsing” is not only devoid of any iota of truth, but could also be regarded as very inflammatory and misleading.
Due to their special relationship, Namibia and Angola elevated their joint commission mechanism, which was co-chaired by ministers, to a Bi-National Commission (BNC), which will be co-chaired by the presidents of Angola and Namibia later in the year.
With regards to the situation of Namibian farmers grazing their cattle in Angola, the two governments have activated the Angola/Namibia Governors Forum, supported by a joint technical committee to harmoniously deal with any concerns in line with the respective regulations and laws of the two countries.
Accordingly, the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation would like to draw the attention of The Namibian, all media institutions and practitioners and the general public at large, that the matter of Namibian farmers grazing their cattle in Angola is being addressed as per the outcome of the joint communique issued after the joint visit by Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, former deputy prime minister and minister of international relations and cooperation of the Republic of Namibia and ambassador Teté António, minister of external relations of the Republic of Angola, to the Cunene province (Angola) and Ohangwena region (Namibia), on 12 January 2024.
The Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation is also not lost to notice attempts by the editorial to cleverly lace facts with fabrications to create an image that the general relationship between the two sisterly countries is not only on the verge of collapsing but has dire consequences for future generations.
While the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation regards the Fourth Estate as a key partner in the development agenda of the country, the ministry equally expects responsible and ethical reporting by The Namibian.
The Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation invites all media institutions and practitioners to feel at liberty to approach the ministry at all times with any queries, clarification or comments.
* Penda Naanda is the executive director in the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation.
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