Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Shania Lazarus
Published on 2024-02-20 13:00:00
After having spent nearly six years in Namibia, Freya Gruenhagen, the director of Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Namibia and Fesmedia Africa, has bid farewell to the country as she continues her career in Germany. In a partners engagement and farewell event held in Windhoek last week, Gruenhagen reflected on her term as director, highlighting several achievements and acknowledging the challenges that were faced.
During her tenure, Gruenhagen noted that there were a number of successful endeavors, including the reform of the African Media Barometer (AMB), which involved the introduction of 41 indicators and the initiation of the AMB Blog to foster sustained engagement on pertinent issues. Additionally, the organization was able to launch access to information online courses, developing programs tailored for government and public officials, civil society, and journalists in collaboration with international experts from the Centre for Law and Democracy and the Africa Freedom of Information Centre.
However, Gruenhagen also addressed the challenges, expressing concern over significant budget cuts to Fesmedia Africa. She explained that the organization had been experiencing financial constraints since 2019, which prompted a shift in their operational and engagement approach with local and regional partners. Gruenhagen lamented that the budget cuts had led to gaps that they hoped to address in the future.
During the event, speaker of parliament Peter Katjavivi emphasized the sacrifice and compromise that were necessary in the drafting of Namibia’s Constitution. He revealed that the Constitution was drafted within three months in defiance of the United Nations Security Council’s deadline to pave the way for an independent Namibia on March 21, 1990. Katjavivi also credited late president Hage Geingob for his instrumental role in the drafting process, highlighting his outreach efforts to all political parties to contribute to the Constitution.
As Gruenhagen bids farewell to Namibia, Hajo Lanz has assumed the role of director of Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Namibia and Fesmedia Africa.
The event concluded with a promotion for The Namibian, a source for credible journalism, encouraging readers to invest in journalism and democracy by subscribing for in-depth reporting and opinions for only N$85 a month.
In conclusion, Gruenhagen’s departure marks the end of a significant chapter for Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Namibia and Fesmedia Africa. Her contributions and accomplishments during her term as director have left a lasting impact, and the appointment of Hajo Lanz signals a new chapter for the organization. Despite the challenges faced, the commitment to promoting democracy and fostering engagement on pertinent issues remains steadfast.
Read the original article on The Namibian
