Geingob lashes media, ministers

President Hage Geingob was livid this morning when he responded to criticism accusing him of being a hypocrite about the crisis of homelessness in Namibia and said shacks are nothing new to him as he was born in one.
“Don’t lecture me about ghettos, I was born in a ghetto. I have families there. I go visit them, my security officials can tell you,” said Geingob.
Geingob has come under fire after he declared the mushrooming of shacks in the country a humanitarian crisis, some saying he is not genuine and serious about addressing the issue but instead it is just an election ploy.
Speaking during the first decision-making Cabinet meeting yesterday Geingob said he understands that some rich people rent out their homes and instead go and stay in shacks.
Geingob also chastised his ministers for failing to speak to the media but at the same time grilled the media for distorting and omitting important information given during interviews.
According to him the government’s good intentions to be transparent and open to the media are trampled upon.
“They (media) say ministers don’t respond, I hope you will answer that and say whether it is correct or not. But that is what they say. But on the other hand 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,” he scolded.
According to him, some journalists are only rushing to stories thinking of “how am I going to get him” and that a preconceived story has already been typed up.
“We cannot blame this government that it is not open to the press, definitely not, but what are we getting in return?” he repeated.
Geingob also took on his ministers for refusing to speak to the media.
“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,” he said.
At the same time he rapped ministers over the knuckles for jeopardising foreign investments by avoiding investors.
“I am disappointed to note that on many occasions cabinet ministers do not avail themselves to meet with local and international investors and are sometimes evasive, leaving many entrepreneurs stranded and unable to effectively pursue business ideas,” said Geingob.
JEMIMA BEUKES