CHRISTOF MALETSKY, Windhoek | Wednesday
THE Namibian government yesterday pumped N$6-million into the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) to avert a strike at the national broadcaster.
The board, management and Namibia Public Workers Union (Napwu) subsequently announced salary increases of between 5,5% and 14% for the 500-odd employees and the looming strike was officially called off.
The increases will be backdated to November 1 last year.
NBC board Chairman Uazuva Kaumbi said the top management, which is comprised of the Director General and controllers, received 5,5% cent while the middle management were given nine per cent.
Those at operational level were awarded 11% and semi-skilled workers 14%. Workers had demanded a 17% salary increase across-the-board which, according to Kaumbi, would have resulted in Government having to fork out N$10,9-million.
“We got slightly more than half of that. The amount was not budgeted at all and we appreciate the injection, particularly since it could have been used on a more worthy project – to build another clinic or a school. It must have killed one or another project. Some project was sacrificed,” he said.
It was not clear late yesterday how Government plans to underwrite the N$6-million.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Information and Broadcasting Theo-Ben Gurirab told The Namibian that the N$6 million “came from the Treasury, the Finance Ministry” but would not specify further.
Sources said Cabinet yesterday deferred discussions on Mulongeni’s future since it did not want to mix the two issues. – The Namibian