Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) management has urged support for the Namibia National Solidarity Campaign by broadcasting firsthand accounts of Cuba’s solidarity and assistance to Namibia.

Speaking during a meeting with members of the campaign’s organising committee, the NBC officials said the corporation should prioritise storytelling that highlights personal experiences, including accounts from Cassinga survivors.

Acting Chief of News and Programming Peter Denk recalled a little-known detail about the Cassinga contingent: “There were supposed to be 600 survivors going to Cuba after Cassinga. But there were actually 601 people who went. Cecilia would know better because there was a stowaway, and we want to know where that person was during Cassinga and how they became part of the 600. So it made it 601.” Denk said such anecdotes could be used as campaign prompts.

Chief Commercial Officer Nico Mwiya said NBC should move beyond generic material and produce targeted features. “We will have to do production as well; we have to do adverts but ideally look at storytelling,” he said, recommending interviews with Cassinga survivors and other people knowledgeable about Cuba’s role. “There is a lot of profiling we can do. Some stories can be shared on different radio platforms in different languages. It will be good to have different people speaking different languages.”

Umbi Karuaihe-Upi, chairperson of the campaign’s subcommittee on communication, offered to supply ready-made content to reduce the burden on NBC. “To get people who can produce for us so we do not have to burden you, we can come with already-made products. We will bring quality control. I know airtime will be better for interviews; we will not come and pressure you,” she said.