Geingob blasts 'drunk' ministers, media
Geingob blasts 'drunk' ministers, media

Geingob blasts 'drunk' ministers, media

Jemima Beukes
President Hage Geingob yesterday unleashed his latest criticism of the local media, accusing journalists of having an agenda against his administration.

The head of state also made startling allegations against senior officials in government, whom he said were seen at “wrong places”, and at times under the influence of alcohol.





Speaking at the first decision-making cabinet meeting of the year at State House yesterday, Geingob appeared irked by critical media reports following his declaration of informal settlements as a humanitarian crisis.

Geingob also dismissed criticism against him by responding to an SMS in a local newspaper which questioned the timing of his informal settlement concerns.

“Don't lecture me about ghettos. I was born in a ghetto. I have family there. I go visit them, my security officials can tell you,” he said.

According to him the government's good intention to be transparent and open to the media is being trampled upon.

“My office is available and some ministers are available and they are interviewed, even for one hour. But when the interview is broadcast, it is one minute – distorted and voice overrun and sometimes your message is not coming out. 'How am I going to get you?' I hear some people say. People come with preconceived notions; (they have already decided what they will put in the paper. They do not even listen to what you say.

“So we are losing confidence in one another. We cannot blame this government that it is not open to the press, definitely not, but what are we getting in return?” Geingob asked.

“In your editorial you have the right to tear me to pieces, but not in news pieces.”

Geingob has come under fire after he declared the mushrooming of shacks in the country a humanitarian crisis, with some saying he is not genuine and serious about addressing the issue, but is instead using it as an election ploy.



'Drunken ministers'

Geingob also lashed out at his cabinet and other government officials for misusing state resources, including travelling abroad with official vehicles. He added that some senior officials were even appearing “drunk” in public.

“Even a minister is drunk in public, which some of you are doing. Drunk in public! Appearing drunk; why don't you run away and hide? Foul language in public, (and) people have to respect you? Sleeping in the bar, going to wrong places. Parking a government car at a nightclub. Taking the government car to cross the border? To go and show off or what?”

He added it is in fact so that government cars are assigned to ministers, and that they pay monthly car allowances and can use the vehicles for their private use, but they must be careful.

“So the fact that you can use your car as you want does not mean you can go and shop with a sedan to load cement bags and so on,” he said.

In 2018, National Council chairperson Margaret Mensah-Williams used her official vehicle for a private trip to Cape Town. At the time the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) defended Mensah-Williams for using a government vehicle abroad.

In the same year, health deputy minister Juliet Kavetuna said there was nothing wrong with transporting bags of cement in her official Mercedes-Benz sedan.

Another thorn in Geingob's flesh was the fact that some ministers avoid local and international investors. “They are sometimes evasive, leaving many entrepreneurs stranded and unable to effectively pursue their business ideas. Sometimes it is best not to make a commitment, but once you have done so, you need to be accountable for fulfilling your end of the bargain,” he said.

Geingob also rapped ministers over the knuckles for not being accessible to the media and reminded them that their behaviour and actions have an impact on how government is perceived at home and abroad.

“Equally, I hear quite often that the press don't get information from ministers. If this is the case, let us change the culture and be more accountable and transparent, when it comes to the provision of information.”

JEMIMA BEUKES

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Namibian Sun 2024-03-28

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Nam 2.22 SAME | Oryx Properties Ltd 12.1 UP 1.70% | Paratus Namibia Holdings 11.99 SAME | SBN Holdings 8.45 SAME | Trustco Group Holdings Ltd 0.48 SAME | B2Gold Corporation 47.34 DOWN 1.50% | Local Index closed 677.62 UP 0.12% | Overall Index closed 1534.6 DOWN 0.05% | Osino Resources Corp 19.47 DOWN 2.41% | Commodities: Gold US$ 2 225.29/OZ UP +1.58% | Copper US$ 3.99/lb UP +0.07% | Zinc US$ 2 455.50/T UP 0% | Brent Crude Oil US$ 87.57/BBP UP +1.36% | Platinum US$ 909.21/OZ UP +1.60%