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Wednesday, April 24, 2002 - Web posted at 10:06:17 pm GMT

Gurirab 'to get radical' with NBC

A DEADLINE has now been set to sort out the many problems dogging the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), Foreign Affairs, Information and Broadcasting Minister, Theo-Ben Gurirab, said yesterday.

"There is now a deadline. We need immediate, lasting solutions to the many problems bedevilling the NBC. If you don't have the necessary, effective, reliable infrastructure, you will still encounter problems," Gurirab told The Namibian.

He indicated he would soon make radical recommendations to Cabinet that will see a number of heads roll at the State broadcaster.

The Minister bemoaned the "many problems bedevilling the NBC", among them theft, abuse of resources and the incompetence of some senior members of staff.

Gurirab said in his motivation to Cabinet would address, in totality, the need for the NBC to be reorganised.

He added that the NBC had now been allocated funds that would enable it to operate on a sound financial footing.

The NBC will receive N$72 million from State coffers for the 2002-03 financial year.

The broadcaster's budget for the year is almost N$150 million, which means it will have to make up the shortfall through license fees and advertisements.

At present the NBC is investigating the theft of almost 30 cheques from its Human Resources and Administration Department.

At least two of the cheques - made out for a combined N$154 000 - were cashed.

In addition, some senior NBC management members are being investigated for abuse of the corporation's vehicles and fuel cards.

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