NBC job up for grabs

THE board of the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) has decided to re-advertise the post of director general and extend the application deadline.

In a media statement NBC board chairman Sven Thieme said the board decided ‘to further enhance the recruitment process of the coveted position.’ He added that the position would be advertised and the deadline extended by at least a week. The Namibian has it on good authority that the process was once again brought to a halt after the newspaper reported about the shortlisted candidates. A source close to the proceedings said that Information Minister Joel Kaapanda came under fire from within Swapo and Government. Some of the questions allegedly raised were about the fact that MTC head of corporate affairs Albertus Aochamub was reported to be the frontrunner to take the controversial post. Kaapanda was allegedly quizzed about the fact that Aochamub was too expensive and had already turned down the job last year because the national broadcaster could not afford to pay him more than N$1 million a year. The fact that the newspaper article also stated Aochamub did not apply for the job but was headhunted is said to have landed Kaapanda in hot water too. Kaapanda refused to comment on NBC issues when approached for comment.The Namibian on Tuesday reported that Aochamub, Stanley Similo, Senior Executive responsible for Human Resources & Regulatory Affairs at mobile operator Leo, and Nedbank head of communications and marketing Rector Mutelo were rumoured to be the shortlisted candidates.Thieme said there was no shortlist but rather a list and that new applicants who met the criteria would be interviewed and then only would the shortlisting start. Thieme added that the move was necessitated by the immense interest expressed in the position after the appointment of the new board. He said the advertisements would run a few days so that the board would have a bigger pool to choose from.Thieme added that the appointment of the new DG was expected to be completed by the middle of next month, ‘in a transparent way’. He said the current acting DG, Yvonne Boois, would remain in the acting role until the appointment of a new director general.