Kandetu takes reins at NBC

THE new Director General of the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) started work yesterday after being formally introduced to the nation by the corporation’s board in the morning.

Board Chairperson Ponhele Ya France reminded Bob Kandetu that he was taking over a position with a lot of bad history. “I would do no justice if I would hide from you that the seat you are to occupy is a hot one, so hot that no one has ever occupied it and left in dignity,” Ya France told the new boss at a media briefing.”The only person who left ceremoniously was the late comrade (Daniel) Tjongarero – the only one who death did us part,” Ya France said.Kandetu takes over the reins of the NBC from the Ministry of Education’s Permanent Secretary Stanley Simataa, who had been acting in the position since January.Simataa will return to the ministry this week, he said yesterday, although he would do so only after having briefed Kandetu on what lies ahead.”I don’t believe in dumping a position on someone,” Simataa told reporters.”I’ll leave office in an orderly fashion, after I’ve done giving over the position.”The permanent DG post was left vacant on November 15 last year, when then DG Gerry Munyama was suspended, and later resigned, after being charged with alleged fraud against the corporation, to the amount of more than N$346 000.Munyama became NBC boss in January 2003, during a restructuring exercise which saw over 100 staff members retrenched, yet failed to get the NBC out of a cash crunch which haunts it to this day.Munyama had inherited the problematic NBC from Ben Mulongeni, who resigned from the post in October 2002, reportedly after much pressure from internal sources.During the 2003-2004 financial year, it emerged from the Auditor General’s report this year, the NBC was operating on a deficit of N$27 million, despite a State subsidy of N$103,9 million.Auditors found that the corporation’s management lacked control over its debt, stock and assets across the country.Asked about his strategy for the broadcaster, Kandetu said he would first have to familiarise himself with the problems facing his organisation before asserting himself.”I have ideas on how I think I can contribute, but it would be best if I used the first opportunity to inform myself on what’s happening, on the anxiety on the ground.Only then can we talk about cutting a way forward,” he told reporters.Kandetu has previously served as the permanent secretary of the ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and was a co-author of the NBC Act.He has also held a number of senior positions in the private sector, which the board says should count as an advantage.”I would do no justice if I would hide from you that the seat you are to occupy is a hot one, so hot that no one has ever occupied it and left in dignity,” Ya France told the new boss at a media briefing.”The only person who left ceremoniously was the late comrade (Daniel) Tjongarero – the only one who death did us part,” Ya France said.Kandetu takes over the reins of the NBC from the Ministry of Education’s Permanent Secretary Stanley Simataa, who had been acting in the position since January.Simataa will return to the ministry this week, he said yesterday, although he would do so only after having briefed Kandetu on what lies ahead.”I don’t believe in dumping a position on someone,” Simataa told reporters.”I’ll leave office in an orderly fashion, after I’ve done giving over the position.”The permanent DG post was left vacant on November 15 last year, when then DG Gerry Munyama was suspended, and later resigned, after being charged with alleged fraud against the corporation, to the amount of more than N$346 000.Munyama became NBC boss in January 2003, during a restructuring exercise which saw over 100 staff members retrenched, yet failed to get the NBC out of a cash crunch which haunts it to this day.Munyama had inherited the problematic NBC from Ben Mulongeni, who resigned from the post in October 2002, reportedly after much pressure from internal sources.During the 2003-2004 financial year, it emerged from the Auditor General’s report this year, the NBC was operating on a deficit of N$27 million, despite a State subsidy of N$103,9 million.Auditors found that the corporation’s management lacked control over its debt, stock and assets across the country.Asked about his strategy for the broadcaster, Kandetu said he would first have to familiarise himself with the problems facing his organisation before asserting himself.”I have ideas on how I think I can contribute, but it would be best if I used the first opportunity to inform myself on what’s happening, on the anxiety on the ground.Only then can we talk about cutting a way forward,” he told reporters.Kandetu has previously served as the permanent secretary of the ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and was a co-author of the NBC Act.He has also held a number of senior positions in the private sector, which the board says should count as an advantage.