A mixed bag: Mathe’s slapdash media legacy

Demonstrating how Mathe tried to wield power, he told The Issue last Saturday, “You would be responded to” on Monday, after he was told we would like to publish last Sunday.

Frederico Links, a public policy researcher, said there was nothing really standout or remarkable about his time as ED at MICT.

“we have to keep in mind that the ED is the administrative head of a ministry or entity with a mandate to ensure the day-to-day operations run as they should and that plans and programmes are implemented, given available resources. That said, I got the sense that he was not shy of engaging or taking on the media and even came across as dismissive of the media on occasion.”

Within the walls of MICT, Mathe was known as a “no-nonsense” leader. An anonymous colleague described him as a person for whom “punctuality and deadlines were sacred.” His “high standards” and insistence on staying “above the line” fostered an environment where “there was very little room for excuses.” Yet, despite this rigid demeanour, he was also viewed as a leader who valued collaboration. “One could bring ideas and your concerns, and he would respond and ask questions that made you feel seen,” the colleague noted, adding that his team felt they were “building with him” rather than simply working for him.

Mathe’s tenure was also marked by a push for crucial legislative and infrastructural developments since he arrived from a relatively short stint at the ministry of sports as ED after the acrimonious exit from New Era.

Further proving the complexity of Mathe’s tenure, The Issue approached various professional communicators, journalists and editors who opted to not comment. Mathe is a feared senior civil servant, as evidenced by a journalist responding to my request for comment saying, “I am even cautious to write this, knowing that many senior government officers have weaponised their offices out of spite, which is telling.”

REACTIONS

A communications professional, who did hazard an opinion, asked for anonymity for fear of reprisals and credited Mathe’s time with the advancement of cybersecurity legislation, which she deemed “critical” given the country’s vulnerability to cyber attacks.

The former SOE and private sector communications executive, however, highlighted that the country is really vulnerable to cybersecurity attacks, “which I still don’t think the government has taken that seriously. People are getting scammed out of their money, and there’s no form of protection for Namibians,” the expert said.

Initiatives spearheaded by Mathe, according to her, included training and capacity building for government public relations personnel and the launch of a national pride campaign. These efforts, along with the establishment of community information centres to deliver information to citizens, were seen as positive strides in connecting the public to information.

However, progress was overshadowed by a wave of sharp criticism.

The ex-public relations officer (PRO) and lecturer noted that the Nationhood and National Pride (NNP) campaign has had some success in promoting events. However, its overall effectiveness is still in question, particularly in how it addresses the diverse challenges faced by different groups in Namibia. Public discussions also suggest that patriotism might be lacking and that a stronger sense of national pride is needed for the country to thrive.

ACCESS

Executive director of IPPR Namibia Graham Hopwood said, “It’s a pity that the Access to Information Act was not operationalised while he was there, as that would have been a crowning achievement.”

Namibia’s Access to Information Act 8 of 2022 was passed by Parliament and signed by late president Hage Geingob, and it was published in the Government Gazette in December 2022.

The Act establishes the right for individuals to access information held by both public and, in certain cases, private entities.

Under the law, public bodies are required to proactively publish specific information, and it provides for the establishment of an independent and impartial information commissioner to oversee the implementation and enforcement of the law.

While the law is a significant step towards greater transparency and accountability in Namibia, its full impact awaits its official implementation.

Mathe responded to these allegations by saying, “The process for the operationalisation of the Access to Information Commissioner’s office has seen substantial progress under the ministry’s purview. The ministry has concluded its part, and the matter is now with the National Assembly. It is important to understand that these are complex, multi-stakeholder processes with defined timelines and procedures that extend beyond the tenure of any single individual. Attributing delays or lack of finalisation solely to my leadership misrepresents the institutional processes involved.”

On Friday the ministry published a call for panelists to interview the applicants, just a week after Mathe left. Details of applicants for this position were revealed by a scandal rag earlier this year.

FAILING UPWARDS

Many journalists and public relations officers swiftly declined to provide comment for this article; as a PRO said, “We still want to work in government.”

Freelance journalist Jemima Beukes voiced strong reservations about Mathe’s time in the media, citing his “questionable record” at New Era and expressing concern over the “recycling” of officials with unresolved issues. She argued that this practice erodes public trust and undermines accountability, highlighting a culture where information is allegedly monopolised and journalists are “confronted” and intimidated.

Mathe left New Era Publication Corporation (NEPC) in 2019 with a dark cloud hanging over his head and the organisation in disarray.

Following the end of his employment contract in January 2019, Mathe allegedly refused to return the company’s luxury vehicle, a Range Rover Sport purchased for his use, as the board refused to extend his stay.

Although the initial agreement gave Mathe the option to buy the vehicle at its commercial value, he reportedly held onto it, claiming it was part of his employment package. This is even though NEPC continued to pay the car’s installments and insurance for months after his departure, and the vehicle was eventually transferred into Mathe’s name. How the vehicle was transferred to Mathe’s name remains a mystery, which prompted the then NEPC board, led by Esau Mbako, to open a case of theft against him.

The details of the case and why it was withdrawn were never made public.

The NEPC board, Mathe, and various government officials have all deflected responsibility and refused to comment on the matter over the years.

Probed on his time at the paper, Mathe said, “During my time at NEPC, I was dedicated to strengthening the institution and ensuring its operational viability. The financial health and operational capacity of any public entity are subject to various factors, including budgetary allocations and market conditions. It is crucial to rely on verifiable information.”

MONEY WOES

Audit reports of NEPC under Mathe show the corporation scored a disclaimer audit opinion for Mathe’s first full financial year in charge there. The auditor general in his report for the year ending 31 March 2015 recommended that “the Corporation provide all supporting documents required for audit purposes.”

The last full financial year that ended 31 March 2018, under Mathe, was assessed by the Auditor General as a qualified audit opinion because “the report was also submitted in April 2019, three months after Mathe had left, instead of six months after the year ended in September 2018. The company’s account receivables were understated, and third-party payments were wrongfully allocated.”

There are no published annual reports available for Mathe’s tenure at New Era.

The journalist who wrote the story around the questionable vehicle’s transfer of ownership, during his time at Nampa, Edward Mumbuu, commended Mathe for popularising the Government Information Centre.

The centre, initially started off during the Covid-19 briefing and was later rolled out as a permanent feature in the government’s communications drive.

“Today, ministers, CEOs, executives, regional leaders and other senior officials use this platform to disseminate information,” he said.

But he was also concerned over the tardy operationalisation of the Access to Information Act.

“Resources were allocated towards the establishment of that office over the last two financial years. Today, we don’t know where that money went and what efforts have been made to get clarity regarding how far the actual implementation of that office is.”

Attempts by journalists to get clarity on this process have yielded little response.

TENSION

Tension with State media houses was a recurring theme among those The Issue spoke to about Mathe’s tenure.

Another journalist also highlighted Namibia’s dropping in media freedom ranking coincided with Mathe’s purported influence over publicly funded media houses.

In 2019, Namibia was ranked 23rd with a score of 81.05, out of 180 countries, in the Reporters Without Borders’ World Press Freedom Index.