Mururani: Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Emma Theofelus, has expressed concern over the absence of community or commercial radio stations in the Kavango West Region, established in 2013. This deficiency, she argues, restricts residents’ access to locally-produced content.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Theofelus made these remarks during the joint commemoration of International Safer Internet Day and World Radio Day at Mururani Combined School sports field in the Mankumpi Constituency. She highlighted that while Namibia’s radio sector includes 19 commercial, seven community, and nine public service stations under the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation, Kavango West lacks any community or commercial radio station, limiting access to local content.

Theofelus urged stakeholders to prioritize expanding community broadcasting services to ensure inclusive access to information. The absence of a regional station, she noted, is both a challenge in amplifying community voices and an opportunity for collaboration to ensure no voice is left unheard.

She also discussed the potential and risks of artificial intelligence (AI) in broadcasting, cautioning against misinformation and disinformation. Theofelus emphasized that AI-generated content needs strong human oversight to ensure accuracy and truthfulness before reaching audiences.

Addressing International Safer Internet Day, Theofelus stressed the importance of promoting online safety awareness and responsible internet use, particularly among youth. She noted Namibia’s initiatives to combat child online exploitation, including a billboard at the Mururani Veterinary Gate addressing Online Child Sexual Exploitation Activity and the launch of the National Child Online Protection initiative.