World news story

Launch of ‘Access to Information for Development’ short film

Last week, the British High Commission together with Joe Vision Production publicly launched the Namibian short film “Access to Information for Development”.

Panelists at the "Access to Information for Development" film launch

Panelists at the "Access to Information for Development" film launch.

The launch of the short film was opened by Hon. Minister Tjekero Tweya, Minister of Information and Communication Technology. The film screening was followed by a panel discussion focusing on the importance of Access to Information for development and prosperity in Namibia. Panelists were: Ally Angula, owner of Leap Holdings, Frederico Links, Editor of Insight Namibia Magazine and ACTION coalition member and Graham Hopwood, director of IPPR Namibia and ACTION coalition member. The panel was moderated by Nangula Shejavali, Research Consultant.

The film “Access to Information for Development”, funded with support from the British High Commission, highlights the importance of Access to information for development in Namibia. The film features among others, interviews with Hon. Tjekero Tweya, Minister of Information and Communication Technology, MP, Adv. Paulus Noa, Director of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Ally Angula, business woman, Dr. Monir Islam, WHO Country Representative Namibia, Job Amupanda, Affirmative Repositioning activist, and Ingo Shanyenge, fashion designer.

H.E Jo Lomas, UK High Commissioner to Namibia, states:

“Openness, transparency and access to information is essential to a country’s development and as a way to tackle corruption. The delivery of education, health, housing and other services are improved when citizens know how taxes are being spent, where they can input into decision making and when services are not being delivered as promised.”

The British High Commission sponsored the production of the film and hopes that it will facilitate the broader understanding of why Access to Information (ATI) is important. The film encourages authorities to introduce the necessary legislation, regulations and culture to ensure that access to information is viewed as a right and not a privilege.

The film can be viewed here.

Published 26 April 2016