By Shivute Kaapanda |
In the modern age, even traditional authorities need to practice and implement policies which promote access to information.
This was said by the Spokesperson of Ongandjera Traditional Authority (OTA), Mr Sackeus Shangula.
“Access to information is crucial for development and for good governance,” said Shangula.
Shangula was responding to a query about the readiness of his authority when the Access to Information Act (ATI) is finally put into force.
“I am quite aware of the Access to Information law which grants Namibians rights to access public information by public entities,” Shangula stated.
He added that despite his personal knowledge of the Access to Information law, Ongandjera Traditional Authority had not been formally informed of the law’s implementation.
“This perhaps is due to delayed communication from the central government.”
The Access to Information Act, Act 8 of 2022, is yet to be operational despite having been passed by Parliament and signed by President Hage Geingob in December 2022.
The Act seeks to compel public institutions and private entities to proactively provide information to the public in the quest to create an open society.
Ongandjera, a traditional authority situated in the south-western part of the former Ovamboland, is one of the eight traditional authorities in northern Namibia.
The office of this traditional authority is found in the small town of Okahao, in Omusati region.
King Johannes Mupiya is the leader of Ongandjera since 2012, coming to power after the death of King Japhet Malenga Munkundi who ruled Aangandjera people for nearly 41 years.
“Ongandjera Traditional Authority has always made access to information a priority,” said Shangula.
“Information such as the harvesting of omagungu and okatalashe (mopane worms) as well as information on accessible grazing land and areas for cattle posts in our communal lands which people from other traditional authorities need in order to harvest omagungu or bring their cattle for grazing during dry seasons, this information we constantly and proactively provide it through radio as a public office, and our office is always open for enquiries.”
Shangula added that the Access to Information law will compel public entities to give information to the public without delays or hesitation.
“With Ongandjera Traditional Authority not all information will be accessible to the public though, because some information is sensitive and is only made to be internal and therefore cannot be accessed outside this Traditional Authority,” he stressed.
However, he emphasised that due to the need for knowledge transfer, university students and various researchers who need information will be given easy access to such information.
“The media fraternity is another beneficiary of the Access to Information law because the nation needs to be informed all the times and this is within the rights of all Namibians as our democratic and unitary fabric is based upon Namibia’s signatory to the Declaration of human rights at Independence,” he said.
In the photo: Mr. Sackeus Shangula, Ongandjera Traditional Authority Spokesperson.
[NB. This article was produced with the financial support of the Namibia Media Trust, through the New Voices, New Narratives in Public Policy Discourse project. Its contents are the sole responsibility of Omutumwa and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NMT nor any of its partners.]
