President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called on young journalists and camera operators to carry forward the legacy of veteran broadcaster and videographer Lamech Mwanyangapo by continuing to tell Namibia’s story accurately and without fear or favour. Nandi-Ndaitwah made the call yesterday when she visited Mwanyangapo’s family home in Academia to comfort his widow and relatives following... The post Carry Manyangapo’s legacy – NNN appeared first on New Era .
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called on young journalists and camera operators to carry forward the legacy of veteran broadcaster and videographer Lamech Mwanyangapo by continuing to tell Namibia’s story accurately and without fear or favour.
Nandi-Ndaitwah made the call yesterday when she visited Mwanyangapo’s family home in Academia to comfort his widow and relatives following his death on August 29 after a battle with cancer. He will be laid to rest this weekend at his home village in the Omusati region.
In an exclusive interview after the visit, the President said Mwanyangapo’s greatest contribution was his ability to communicate powerful messages through images and to document events as they happened.
“He has really distinguished himself as one of the best people who knows how to communicate through pictures and to communicate the right message. And that is also what contributes to Namibia being seen as one country where freedom of the press is there,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
She said Mwanyangapo did not choose only the events or places he wanted to cover but captured them as they were, allowing Namibians to see and understand their own history through his work. “Lamech was not selective on where to take pictures but took them as they were telling the story,” she said. Nandi-Ndaitwah singled out Mwanyangapo’s work in the DRC, where he documented the deployment of SADC forces after they were invited by their government.
“During peace and war, we remember his work when he was in DRC, when the SADC forces went in on the invitation of the government of DRC,” she said. She also recalled how Mwanyangapo travelled extensively across Namibia during his nearly three decades at the NBC, documenting people, communities and events. Mwanyangapo’s work demonstrated that good journalism does not always depend on having the most advanced equipment but on the ability of the journalist behind the camera to tell a meaningful story, she said. This, Nandi-Ndaitwah said, is part of Mwanyangapo’s contribution to press freedom and to Namibia’s media history.
She noted that Mwanyangapo’s contribution went beyond broadcasting. After being diagnosed with cancer, he used his personal experience to raise awareness and help others understand the disease.
“Lamech is a compassionate person. When he suffered from cancer, he decided to be a champion in order to assist the others to understand and to protect themselves. So, definitely, as a nation, we have lost,” she said.
She also reflected on Mwanyangapo’s appearance during NBC’s 35th anniversary celebrations, saying his narration of the broadcaster’s history left a lasting impression on her.
“Because in celebrating the 35th anniversary of NBC, we have seen how Lamek came in and narrated the whole history,” she said.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said the best way to honour Mwanyangapo was for those who remain in the media industry to continue his work.
The President’s earlier condolence message described Mwanyangapo as a veteran broadcaster who served Namibia through the NBC for almost three decades and helped document people, events and defining moments in the country’s national story.
She also said his legacy extended to cancer advocacy, particularly his efforts to promote awareness, early detection and improved access to treatment. In the interview, Nandi-Ndaitwah ended by urging the media to continue
using journalism to communicate effectively with Namibians and the wider world.
The post Carry Manyangapo’s legacy – NNN appeared first on New Era.
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