The Editors' Forum of Namibia, or EFN, has not paid the full prize money to three journalists who won awards last November. The journalists expected to get $15,000 each, as the entry forms stated. But they got less than half of that amount instead.
Isai Sipunga from One Africa Television won an award for reporting on mining and energy. He was supposed to receive $15,000 but only got $3,750. Toivo Ndjebela, the EFN's treasurer, told him that was the best they could do. No one received the full amount they were promised.
Sheefeni Nikodemus from The Namibian newspaper had a similar experience. In December, he received a "token cash prize" of just $3,750, far less than the $15,000 his category was supposed to be worth. The EFN never said some categories might not have a cash prize at all. Nikodemus feels this goes against the competition rules and hurts the organization's credibility.
Timo Shihepo, a freelance journalist, also won a category that was meant to have a $30,000 prize. However, he received a much smaller "token prize." The EFN told him it was because the sponsors did not give the money they had promised for his categories.
The EFN has not yet explained why the winners got less money than expected. This is despite one sponsor giving $250,000 to help organize the awards and pay for one of the categories. The three journalists are disappointed and waiting for answers from the EFN about when or if they will get the full amounts they won.
Isai Sipunga from One Africa Television won an award for reporting on mining and energy. He was supposed to receive $15,000 but only got $3,750. Toivo Ndjebela, the EFN's treasurer, told him that was the best they could do. No one received the full amount they were promised.
Sheefeni Nikodemus from The Namibian newspaper had a similar experience. In December, he received a "token cash prize" of just $3,750, far less than the $15,000 his category was supposed to be worth. The EFN never said some categories might not have a cash prize at all. Nikodemus feels this goes against the competition rules and hurts the organization's credibility.
Timo Shihepo, a freelance journalist, also won a category that was meant to have a $30,000 prize. However, he received a much smaller "token prize." The EFN told him it was because the sponsors did not give the money they had promised for his categories.
The EFN has not yet explained why the winners got less money than expected. This is despite one sponsor giving $250,000 to help organize the awards and pay for one of the categories. The three journalists are disappointed and waiting for answers from the EFN about when or if they will get the full amounts they won.
