New Era appeals defamation ruling

The state-owned newspaper New Era announced last week that it would appeal a Windhoek High Court ruling in which it was found guilty of defamation.

Earlier this month, the High Court ruled in favour of Namibian Police commissioner Andreas Nelumbu and ordered New Era Publication Corporation (NEPC) and the newspaper to pay him N$50 000, issue an apology and retract the defamatory statements.

The article at the centre of the court dispute appeared on the front page of New Era on 27 September 2022, under the headline 'Top cops plot thickens’.

The article claimed that Nelumbu, who served as the head of the logistics division, had stolen a generator and used a police vehicle on his private farm in northern Namibia.

The article further claimed that around 90 firearms and ammunition were stolen from the police in Windhoek under

Nelumbu's supervision.

During the trial, Nelumbu argued that the statements damaged his good name and reputation, portraying him as a thief.

Grounds for appeal

In its grounds for appeal, New Era claims that Judge Orben Sibeya erred in his ruling and did not adequately consider New Era's defence.

New Era's defence is that it acted reasonably and that the article was in the public interest.

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