GOBABIS: Presidential Affairs Minister, Dr. Albert Kawana came out with guns blazing against members of the media covering the recent Swapo Omaheke regional conference, threatening them with legal action.

Kawana, who was speaking in his capacity as chairperson of national leaders assigned to the Omaheke Region, warned journalist at the weekend conference to “report fairly on what had transpired at the conference and not to write poison.”

He vowed that he is ready to take legal action on any journalist he view as having reported negatively and with a hidden agenda against the party.

Kawana, who made the remarks after the announcement of the new regional executive committee, said the media has been on a campaign to distort facts and spread lies – something which must come to an end.

“I warn you to write only the positives of what transpired here. I am tired of the media distorting things for their own good. This time I will take you to court, just be warned.

“Don’t forget that I am the secretary for legal affairs can do everything in my power to stop you reporting negative things,” he said.

The clearly agitated Kawana, whom some party delegates to the conference accused of being biased against the camp supporting the new Regional Coordinator, Kejamuina Mungendje, minced no words in his tirade against the few media practitioners present during the conference.

Mungendje’s camp had accused Kawana of employing delaying tactics, apparently in an attempt to have the former acting Regional Coordinator, Job Muniaro, elected to the full-time position.

The Presidential Affairs Minister had earlier, during his opening statement, referred to the media as reactionary forces out to destroy Swapo.

“There are reactionary forces who want to see Swapo destroyed from within by writing negative things…,” he said.

Kawana said the delay in conducting the conference should not be seen as a result of ‘so-called infighting’ within the party, noting that the party had to go back to all district conferences to verify the legitimacy of delegates’ membership cards.

“As you can see from the outcome of the delegates to congress; we have representatives from all communities in Namibia because that is what Swapo stands for. We strongly reject tribalism in all its form,” said Kawana.

(edited)GOBABIS, 29 JUL (NAMPA) – Presidential Affairs Minister Dr Albert Kawana came out with guns blazing against members of the media covering Saturday’s Swapo-Party Omaheke regional conference, threatening them with legal action.

Kawana, who was speaking in his capacity as chairperson of the national leaders assigned to the Omaheke Region, warned journalists at the weekend conference to “report fairly on what had transpired at the conference and not to write poison.”

He vowed that he is ready to take legal action against any journalist he views as having reported negatively and with a hidden agenda against the party.

Kawana, who made the remarks after the announcement of the new regional executive committee, said the media has been on a campaign to “distort facts and spread lies” – something he said must come to an end.

“I warn you to write only the positives of what transpired here. I am tired of the media distorting things for their own good. This time I will take you to court, just be warned. Don’t forget that I am the secretary for legal affairs can do everything in my power to stop you reporting negative things,” he said.

The clearly agitated Kawana, who some party delegates to the conference accused of being biased against the camp supporting the new regional coordinator, Kejamuina Mungendje, minced no words in his tirade against the few media practitioners present during the conference.

Mungendje’s camp had accused Kawana of employing delaying tactics, apparently in an attempt to have the former acting regional coordinator, Job Muniaro, elected to the full-time position.

The Presidential Affairs Minister had earlier, during his opening statement, referred to the media as “reactionary forces” out to destroy the Swapo-Party.

“There are reactionary forces who want to see Swapo destroyed from within by writing negative things…,” he said.

Kawana further stated that the delay in conducting the conference should not be seen as a result of ‘so-called infighting’ within the party, noting that the party had to go back to all district conferences to verify the legitimacy of delegates’ membership cards.

“As you can see from the outcome of the delegates to congress; we have representatives from all communities in Namibia because that is what Swapo stands for. We strongly reject tribalism in all its forms,” he said.