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Mass exodus At Mass Media |
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Director Cautions Against ‘Pull Him/Her down Syndrome’
BTV, RB2 To Be licensed
In a bid to stem the exodus of staff members, Director of Broadcasting Services Mogomotsi Kaboeamodimo has revealed that his department is adopting far-reaching measures, including financial, procurement and the anticipated licensing of both Botswana Television (Btv) and RB2.
The two government run stations have been operating without licences for a long time now. The director’s comments come amidst concerns from stakeholders on procurement and recruitment procedures at the departments. It is understood that when he took over early this year, Kaboeamodimo made it clear that he wanted to overhaul programmes, following numerous complaints of alleged corruption in the soliciting of programmes at Btv.
It is understood that at the meeting he addressed recently, he assured staff that his management team are coming up with a performance based reward system “so that we can create opportunities for staff development and progression”.
The director also complained about what he termed indiscipline in the department, with some staff members “creating havoc everywhere with unsubstantiated allegations”.
“We need to resist and overcome hostilities - ‘break them down’ or ‘pull them down’ syndrome must stop,” he declared.
He described this as a virus that must be eradicated because it “denies the nation enjoyable television and radio services.
“While I am head of DBS I will do everything within my power to ensure that work is done without hassle,” he said.
Kaboeayamodimo said he wants to allow staff members to multi-task, in a manageable way, without neglecting the requirement for choice and selection in given areas such as special assignments, presentation, news reading and reporting.
He was concerned that Radio Botswana (RB) and Btv are reputed to have the most technically superior systems and studios in the country yet quite often “we experience both transmission and broadcast failures”.
He added that management has engaged with the Ministry Management to solve manpower and budgetary limitations or “constraints that dictate the extent to which we can carry the load of work before us”.
He said they are engaged with the Ministry Management and ultimately the Directorate of Public Service Management (DPSM), with the aim to have RB and Btv recognised as specialised disciplines that require unique talent and rare skill. “We have submitted a proposal that among other things seeks to review or upgrade the bands.
Meanwhile, the Mass Media Complex is facing serious problems at the moment. The Botswana News Agency (BOPA) had 20 reporters last year but there are presently only eight reporters in the news room. The majority have left to join other government departments because of frustration. Some who spoke on condition of anonymity alleged that one of their supervisors had vowed that she would make sure that they did not progress. “I was kept at one scale for five years, I could not take it anymore,” said a former reporter. At some point they were told that the DPSM had a pool of people to recruit from hence their resignations are not of concern.
The Ministry of Health has benefited much from the Mass Media Complex exodus. It has recruited more than six employees from the Departments of Broadcasting and Information Services’ BOPA. The Gazette has learnt that Eva Jackson, the former Head of RB2, for example, has joined the Ministry of Health as head of the communication department. Boikhutso Rabasha, deputy dead of RB2, has joined the Ministry of Agriculture. Other former employees from the Department of Broadcasting who have joined the health ministry include Themba Sibanda, a principal public relations officer; Donel Kutlapye and Tuduetso Setsiba-Kelapile. Thuso Palai also left Radio Botswana recently to join the Ministry of Youth Sports and Culture. Tebogo Moisakamo has left BOPA for the Ministry of Health as well, and more resignations are anticipated.
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