Namibia shields Pitt and Jolie birth

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have an entire government on their side in the latest celebrity versus paparazzi skirmish as they await the birth of their child in seclusion at a resort in Namibia.

The Namibian Embassy in Pretoria tells journalists seeking visas for Namibia to cover the birth of the eagerly awaited celebrity baby that they must have permission from Pitt and Jolie in writing before they will be allowed into the country.

The government, which has seen its profile as a tourist destination increased by the celebrity visit, has arrested photographers, confiscated film, set up large green barriers on the beach to shield the couple and their children Zahara and Maddox, ringed the hotel with heavy security and threatened to expel any journalist trying to cover the birth without the parents’ permission.

“This lady is expecting,” Namibian Prime Minister Nahas Angula was quoted as telling South Africa’s Sunday Times last month. “You guys are harassing her. Why don’t you allow her some privacy? Harassment is not allowed in Namibia.”

Interest has heightened in recent weeks as photographers anticipated the due date. It escalated Tuesday when an e-mail Pitt sent to the Cannes Film Festival and read to reporters there said he was unable to attend because of the baby’s “imminent arrival.”

Darryn Lyons, chairman of Big Pictures, which runs MrPaparazzi.com, said in London that the two stars were certain to gain more attention by taking up residence in a poor corner of Africa then they would in the United States.

“I don’t think they could have given the people more of an appetite to see the new creature,” said Lyons, referring to the decision to hole up in Namibia. “It is the most anticipated baby since Jesus Christ.”

“They would have been more discreet sitting in Malibu,” he said. “I don’t know why they’re going to all this ridiculous trouble.”

Before Pitt and Jolie took up residence at a luxury hotel on the Namibian coast, the government never required that journalists get permission from private citizens -- foreign or otherwise -- to obtain a visa.

John Liebengerg, a South African magazine photographer, was arrested Wednesday for a second time in less than a week for trying to take pictures of the couple at a restaurant.

Lyons said he had a team in place in Namibia but that none of his photographers had been arrested. He added someone -- perhaps even the midwife -- with a small camera or one built into a cellphone stood to make a lot of money.

“You could probably buy Namibia with that picture,” he said, estimating the first picture of Pitt and Jolie’s baby would be worth $5 million.