Africa-Press – Namibia.
Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) member of parliament John Louw Mouton has brought the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) under scrutiny following revelations in its 2023 audit report, which highlighted the financial constraints gripping the national broadcaster.
Amid these constraints, NBC’s management has been accused of overworking and underpaying staff while awarding themselves hefty salaries.
“NBC has often relied on government bailouts to cover operational costs. This has historically led to issues such as underpayment and overworking of staff, which in turn negatively affect service quality and workforce morale,” Louw said.
The audit report shows that some executives received payments exceeding N$750 000, amounts that were allegedly above the pay cap and not authorised by the Minister of Information and Communication Technology.
Louw directed his questions to line minister Emma Theofelus, stressing that the remuneration of management is determined by the NBC board in consultation with the minister.
He argued that these payouts amounted to non-compliance and asked whether, upon becoming aware, the minister had addressed the matter with the board and what consequences would follow, to hold those responsible accountable.
Meanwhile, NBC received N$361.9 million this year for its operational budget and an additional N$140 million for development initiatives.
In May, Theofelus said the funds were intended to support key projects and content production aimed at improving NBC’s efficiency, service delivery and public broadcasting.
She explained that operational costs, including the employment of temporary contract staff, account for the bulk of NBC’s recurrent expenditure.
“A dedicated television channel will be launched to broadcast parliamentary proceedings to ensure broader access, particularly for rural communities without access to televisions or smart devices. The NBC will also explore ways to expand radio coverage of parliamentary sessions. Importantly, this service will not generate revenue for the broadcaster,” Theofelus said at the time.
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