Africa urgently needs to take charge of its own narrative and utilize the media to influence perceptions, both within the continent and around the world, Vice President of Namibia, Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, told Sputnik Africa.
She emphasized that Africa needs to develop the infrastructure and technology necessary to become media innovators.
"There is a need for strong collaboration and putting the resources together to have the right infrastructure in the continent... so that African stories and the African messages come out clear, not just for the African people, but globally," Nandi-Ndaitwah stated.
Her vision aims to shift global perceptions of Africa from a continent riddled with problems to one that plays an essential role in global development.
The vice president also stressed the importance of "information sovereignty" for the continent, advocating for Africa to control its own media and messaging.
"Information sovereignty means for me that Africa must be able to control her own information. And that is necessary because information has the power to control the minds of people," she said.
According to her, losing control of media leads to a form of "mental colonization" that would hinder Africa’s political and economic liberation efforts.
Speaking on the issue of sanctions against media outlets, Nandi-Ndaitwah expressed concern about the implications for freedom of information.
"In any situation when some media is blocked, then by implication you are depriving the public to have a wider knowledge of what is happening for them to make informed decisions," she remarked.
She criticized the blocking of media as an infringement on the democratic right to access information, calling it "unfortunate" and contradictory to democratic principles.
On Namibia's foreign relations, particularly with BRICS nations, the vice president indicated that Namibia seeks to align itself with economic partnerships that will best serve the country's developmental goals.
"We have to be really linked to different systems and see where we can get better offers for us to pursue our developmental agenda," she said.
The vice president noted that Namibia is well-positioned to strengthen economic ties with various global powers, including Russia, and expressed optimism about potential collaboration in areas such as nuclear energy and infrastructure development.
Nandi-Ndaitwah also shared her insights on the future of Namibia's relationship with Russia and her focus areas if elected.
"There will be no change at all because we are all coming from the same roots. So we just pursue and strengthen the cooperation which we had over the years," she affirmed.
The vice president outlined her focus on economic development through sustainable growth. She emphasized sectors with significant impacts, particularly on youth, such as the sports creative industry. Additionally, she highlighted the mining industry and emerging sectors like oil and gas, alongside transport infrastructure, as key drivers for Namibia's economy.
Namibia's ambition to become a logistics hub is coupled with its potential in nuclear energy and green hydrogen. Nandi-Ndaitwah remarked on Namibia's position as a major uranium producer and its role as a "natural laboratory for green hydrogen," advocating a holistic approach to utilizing these resources alongside other energy mixes within the country.
As potentially the first woman poised to lead this southern African nation, Nandi-Ndaitwah views her probable presidency as a significant milestone for gender equality in Africa.
"It will also inspire young women to work with confidence... we are now really trying to go around the traditional norms that for many years all over the world have seen a woman as one who does not have a very significant role in the public life," she concluded, stressing the importance of inclusivity in solving social and economic challenges.