‘Fake news’ –misinformation, disinformation and propaganda – is very much a reality in Namibian political and electoral processes. Various social media platforms have become the preferred battlegrounds on which disturbing, divisive and even dangerous campaigns and content are being shared. This report describes what ‘fake news’ on Namibian social media looks like and where it is mostly found, and sounds a cautionary note as the country moves towards elections in late 2019.
A secondary aim of this study is to add the Namibian experience to the global picture and literature on the topic of ‘fake news’, especially in the context of electoral politics and processes.
