NBC workers across the country downed tools on Tuesday, calling for not only the increase, but also the resignation of Director General Bob Kandetu and the NBC management, who they accused of incompetence.

The charge was made despite Kandetu and the new board being able to reduce the State-run broadcaster's longstanding and hefty debt.

After a day and half in the sun, workers were informed late yesterday morning that the NBC would grant them the increase, but on condition that they returned to work by 12h00 yesterday at the latest.

Workers however, along with their shop stewards council and union representatives, demanded that the money first be paid into their accounts before they returned to work.

"We met with them at the office of the Labour Commissioner, and they informed us of their proposal.

We said we agreed with it in principle, but that we'd first have to speak to the workers," Kennedy Onesmus, Chairperson of the shop stewards council told The Namibian yesterday.

Workers, he said, feared that as soon as they returned to work, management could possibly backtrack as had happened over the past few years.

"Workers decided that they would only return to work once the payment was reflected on their bank accounts.

If management in fact did decide to backtrack, there would be a lot of problems logistically with getting workers back together again to organise new industrial action," Onesmus said.

Contacted yesterday afternoon, Kandetu confirmed that management had agreed to pay both the six per cent increase and the nine per cent back payment, adding that the total amount came to approximately N$4,8 million.

Most of the NBC's services ground to a halt once the strike swung into action, with radio predominantly playing music while the television service relied mainly on a feed from China Central Television (CCTV).

When asked about reports swirling among members of the public that the strike could have been influenced by the current political climate in the country, Kandetu said he was not prepared to "mix issues".

Readers who contacted The Namibian (see also today's SMS responses on page 8 for more views on the issue) especially referred to a Swapo Youth League (SPYL) statement last week in which it registered a "vote of no confidence" in the NBC management,and called on them to step down.

The statement, signed by SPYL Secretary Elijah Ngurare, claimed that most people on the NBC management were supporters of the newly formed Rally for Democracy (RDP).

He also claimed that the RDP was receiving a disproportionate amount of coverage compared to other opposition parties.

Some observers find it strange that the dispute declared by the workers came only days after the SPYL statement.

Another issue being questioned is the central role played by the Secretary General of the National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW), Evilastus Kaaronda in the strike, instead of the Namibia Public Workers Union (Napwu), which has a recognition agreement with the NBC.

It was seen as another sign of possible politicking.

"Yes, the Swapo Youth League decided to take me on.

But I intend to address them along the way.

Right now, this (the strike) is my priority," Kandetu said of the SPYL statement.

NBC Board chairperson Ponhele ya France, who spoke to The Namibian yesterday before the agreement was reached, said he had appealed to workers to show sympathy for the situation in which the national broadcaster found itself.

"When the new board started, we found the NBC with an overdraft balance of between N$28 and N$31 million, and we've been able to reduce that to almost a single digit.

At that time, the NBC recorded about N$11 to N$13 million in revenue.

We've since been able to increase that to about N$50 million.

These are some of the efforts we've been involved in, and we've been very transparent about it.

Workers are aware of this.

But its unreasonable to expect that as soon as someone makes a profit, they should start spending it already.

All that does is take you back to square one," Ya France said.

Many of the employees spoken to yesterday expressed the opinion that they would only return to their jobs tomorrow.

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