Namibia state broadcaster scraps "Chat Shows" :: Mmegi Online

WINDHOEK: MISA-Namibia has expressed surprise at the ban on chat shows by the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC). In a statement on March 3 Acting Director General of the NBC Andrew Kanime, announced that the National Chat Show programmes hosted in the morning shall cease.

Members of the public used to phone in to express and discuss a number of issues. The government and ruling party's, SWAPO argue that the shows are being abused to attack the party and government leadership. A ruling party arm called the Swapo Elders Council and the National Council called for the chat shows to be reviewed in 2008.

In a statement MISA-Namibia says it strongly opposes any suggesting scrapping, controlling or censoring information in the public domain. MISA-Namibia says while agreeing that there is a need for the programme to be professionalised, it is important to recognize that the chat shows were established to provide the citizens of the country with an avenue to express their concerns.

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