Namibian Broadcast Corporation Suspends Religious Programs

The Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) has suspended all religious programs on both radio and television until further notice

By Kenneth Chan, Friday, January 07, 2005

The Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) has suspended all religious programs on both radio and television until further notice, sources in Africa reported Friday. According to reports, the suspension came after the national broadcaster announced its concern over the way some devotions were being conducted.

NBC Director General Gerry Munyama told the New Era news agency that NBC was concerned about the rapid way in which many different churches come into existence in the country.

"The problem is the mushrooming of people turning churches into business institutions and we don't want to be used. We have the duty as NBC to inform people accurately and we will fail in our duty if we contribute to this situation," explained Munyama.

The Director General also said the latest suspension is part of the NBC's new year resolutions to strategize on how best to serve the interests of the nation.

He further explained that young people in the country should grow up in a proper way, since the NBC's mission is to accurately inform, educate and entertain the nation through its programs. "This is a wake-up call for the church leadership to meet with us on how we want the programs to be run. Who's a church and who's not," Munyama said.

According to New Era, the NBC is seeking to meet with the Council of Churches of Namibia (CCN) some time next week to come to an agreement on how best to handle religious programming on the national broadcaster.

Meanwhile, some Namibian churches have expressed general disappointment with the immediate suspension of religious programs on radio and television.

"It's a disappointment to me - then why should we pay for our TV licenses. We are against suspension altogether," said Pastor Naftalie Amukwelele from Greater Love Ministries.

He added that there is clearly a misunderstanding, saying the use of money is not something found in the religious faith, and stressed that religion is of great benefit to the moral principles of young people in the country.

"The issue primarily concerns the capability of the NBC to select what is right to show the nation," said the Rev. Ngeno Nakamhela, who added that the suspension of the programs would not stop the