One Africa in dire straits?

Written by Patience Nyangove

Thursday, 21 January 2010

AFTER the merger with e-TV which is one of Africa’s most interesting stations, Namibia’s private television station One Africa has not been spared by the economic slump.



The station that started airing e-TV programmes since last year November has shed its staff and lost some to greener pastures.

One Africa’s General Manager, Holger Sirchoulomb admitted this week that they had to retrench 10 people.

Responding to reports that his company had lost 40% of its workforce, Sirchoulomb said, “Last year was a tough financial year for us just like any other business. But it’s not true that 40% of our work force went to join the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation. Although we have reduced our work force by only 10 people it can’t be said it’s 40%.” He also refuted reports that the television station goes off air sometimes because it had not paid for transmission licence.

“Yes we are some times off air but its weather related. Our Windhoek transmitter is affected by the weather that’s why we go off air sometimes,” he said.

However, an employee at the station said, “Most of our colleagues have quit the station for alternative jobs in the market because the management is not keen on addressing our remuneration concerns. Our work conditions are also not the best as compared to our competitors,” said the inside source.

According to an inside source within the broadcaster, staff at the station are frustrated with the issue of poor remuneration forcing them to seek employment at the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) especially.

He however admitted that last year was a difficult year for them just like any other business in the country because of the economic recession.