admin
Southern Times Writer
The Southern Times has grown to be the voice of Sadc, telling the regional story from an African perspective in the past 10 years of its existence, Namibia’s Minister of Information and Communication Technology Joel Kaapanda has said. Speaking on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the newspaper on Wednesday night in Windhoek, Minister Kaapanda said the newspaper had fulfilled the mandate for which it was formed by being the analytical voice of political and socio-economic developments in the region.
The Southern Times was established in 2004 as a joint venture between Namibia’s New Era Publications and Zimbabwe Newspapers.
“In my own analysis, Southern Times has attempted to tell the African story as it unfolds in the Sadc region,” said Minister Kaapanda.
“The newspaper specialises in analytical features, looking at an issue and going behind the issue and analysing the issue, what does it mean.
“That is how the newspaper has distinguished itself from the daily newspapers, which cover events and announce new developments.”
Minister Kaapanda said as the region endeavoured for development on the economic and social fronts, it needed an analysis of the events happening around it to be able to make sound decisions.
“This is how NamZim (The Southern Times) addresses issues from an analytical point of view, it’s a vehicle for Sadc integration,” he said.
“As we endeavour for economic development and otherwise, what does that (events and processes in the region) mean to us?”
Minister Kaapanda said Namibia’s founding President Dr Sam Nujoma and President Mugabe wanted the region to have a newspaper that told the African story from an African perspective and The Southern Times had fitted that bill in a convincing manner.
“What inspired the formation of the newspaper was the desire by our two presidents former President Dr Sam Nujoma and President Robert Mugabe to establish a newspaper with a regional dimension that tells the regional story from an African perspective, a newspaper that will carry a story as told by Africans themselves,” he said.
Minister Kaapanda said The Southern Times had become a vehicle for regional integration because its reportage sought to promote unity and co-operation among Sadc member states in the political, economic, social and cultural sectors.
He said the newspaper helped cement the good relations that already existed between Namibia and Zimbabwe through sharing of experiences and skills.
Minister Kaapanda urged other Sadc member states to join in the initiative and consolidate the position of The Southern Times as the region’s voice.
The Sadc Secretariat has on a number of occasions partnered with The Southern Times which has seen the newspaper being the official media partner at the annual Sadc summits where it produced daily bulletins and special magazines of events at the meetings.
Minister Kaapanda paid tribute to Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo for the co-operation that exists between Zimbabwe and Namibia’s information ministries, which saw the birth of The Southern Times.
Online Reporter