No, the Oshikoto governor did not say 91% of region ‘deprived of information’

Image courtesy Namibia Fact Check

An article in state-owned daily New Era falsely claimed that the Oshikoto governor made the misleading claim.

The article which was published on the front page of the state-owned newspaper on Monday, 4 October 2021, under the headline “91% of Oshikoto deprived of information”, states in its introductory paragraphs: 

“OMUTHIYA – About 91% of the population in the Oshikoto region who live in the rural areas are deprived of timely information, while only those who live in towns have access.

Oshikoto governor Penda ya Ndakolo said this on Thursday at a dialogue session of the Access to Information Bill, which was tabled in Parliament. Oshikoto has a population of over 181 973, based on the 2011 population census.”

The article as it appeared on the front page of the New Era newspaper on 4 October 2021.

The Oshikoto governor was reported as having made these statements at an event on Thursday, 30 September 2021, at the Oshikoto regional capital, Omuthiya.

What the governor said

However, governor Ya Ndakolo did not say that 91% of the regional population was “deprived of information”, but rather that 91% of the regional population lived in rural areas. The governor’s speech at the occasion reads as follows: 

“Oshikoto Region is one of the fourteen regions with a population of 181 973 according to 2011 population and housing census. The region has a rural population of 91% while the remaining 9% resides in urban areas. 

One of the region’s developmental issues is telecommunication coverage and access to information, which mostly affects residents of the Eengodi, Okankolo, and Nehale Lya Mpinganga constituencies. As a result, it is difficult for people in these areas to communicate and have access to all information.”

The New Era reporter who wrote the article, Josephina Mwashindange, was contacted via WhatsApp and telephone to comment on the findings of Namibia Fact Check. Despite numerous approaches for a response, Mwashindange did not comment or provide an explanation for the misinterpretation or misleading reporting by the time of publication.

On an aside …

In his speech on 30 September 2021, Oshikoto governor Penda ya Ndakolo stated: 

“Oshikoto Region is one of the fourteen regions with a population of 181 973 according to 2011 population and housing census. The region has a rural population of 91% while the remaining 9% resides in urban areas.” 

This statement is false. 

The 2011 census document indicates that the rural population at that point was 87% and the urban population 13%. 

It was in the 2001 census that the region’s rural population was stated to be 91% and the urban population at 9%.  

Namibia Fact Check will update this article if or when New Era reporter Josephina Mwashindange responds or comments.

False

Based on the evidence and/or best available data / information the statements or claims assessed in this article are false.

8th October 2021

Tia-Zia //Garoes

Tia-Zia //Garoes is a fact checker and researcher with Namibia Fact Check.