Reporters warned not to write ‘crap’

Namibia’s Trade Minister Tjekero Tweya has compared journalists to flies, and advised potential foreign investors not to be swayed ‘by the noise they make through their writing’. He blamed the media for the country’s stagnant economy. The Namibian reports that he was speaking at the signing of an MoU between global trade promoter DP World and the Walvis Bay Free Economic Zone which is intended to be a giant industrial park. ‘It is not going to be easy, but let us stay focused, and there will be a lot of flies making noise here because they are also looking for something. This is the first-ever industrial park in Namibia, and you cannot compare it to others. And media, if you don't understand it, do not write crap,’ he said. Legalbrief reports that the facility is expected to provide businesses with development-ready land for industrial and logistics operations, pre-built warehouses and office accommodation. The first phase will see the development of 50 hectares, with it possibly expanding to 1 500 hectares. The government says because of ‘trade flows’ with surrounding markets in Angola, the DRC, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Malawi and SA, Namibia is well positioned in the SADC region.