WINDHOEK – Insight Magazine journalist Tileni Mongudhi on Friday received his tape recorder which the Minister of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture, Kazenambo Kazenambo confiscated after an interview went sour.

On Friday, an agreement was reached between the two parties that the tape recorder confiscated by the minister as a “weapon of war” would be returned.

Kazenambo’s lawyer Patrick Kauta confirmed upon inquiry from New Era that the tape recorder would be returned on Friday.
Elise Angula, Insight Magazine lawyer and Mongudhi went to get the tape recorder from Kauta’s office at Dr Weder, Kauta & Hoveka Inc on Friday.

But the interview with the minister that caused turmoil was not on the tape recorder. Media reports say that the interview was deleted.
New Era learned that Angula and Mongudhi signed a document at Kauta’s office acknowledging receipt of the tape recorder, and noting that the interview was erased.

Kauta also informed New Era that the interview with the minister would not be on the tape. The lawyer added that the party could pursue the matter in court if they wanted to, adding:“It’s a free country.”

Mongudhi on Friday also confirmed receiving the tape recorder. The journalist said that he was glad that he got the tape recorder back. On the missing interview he said, “We will have to sit and evaluate the way forward.”

The journalist added that he would consult his lawyer and colleagues on the way forward. “The fact that the interview was erased says something,” said Mongudhi.

Last month Mongudhi’s interview with Kazenambo ended on a bad note.  The minister allegedly called fellow ministers “stupid Owambos”, and said that Aawambo “are just like the Boers, worse because (they) are hungry and stupid”.

The minister then confiscated the tape recorder and allegedly told Mongudhi and his colleague, “If I could, I would kick you. I would f*** you up.”

The minister maintained he was acting in self-defence. A question posed by Mongudhi reportedly angered him. It is said that Kazenambo’s anger was triggered by a question from Mongudhi that some of his fellow cabinet colleagues were saying that he acted more like a Herero leader than a national representative when he was dealing with the genocide skulls issue.
Kazenambo charged that the question had tribal connotations.

In an interview with New Era recently, Kazenambo denied making the statements.  He also denied he had generalised his statements to include all the Aawambo but those that accused him of behaving more like a Herero than a national leader during the repatriation of the skulls.