NBC gets N$58m to revamp studio equipment

The Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) will receive N$58 million to refurbish its old studio equipment as well as upgrading its network to deliver quality content to the public.

This was revealed by minister of information Peya Mushelenga in the National Assembly on Wednesday while motivating the ministry’s budget of N$354 million from the 2021/22 national budget.

Breaking down his ministry’s budget, Mushelenga said from the N$354 million allocated, NBC will receive N$130 million, whereas the Namibia Press Agency (Nampa) will get N$14 million. Mushelenga said New Era Publications Corporation (NEPC), will receive an amount of N$10 million, while the Southern Times newspaper, which spearheads regional and continental information dissemination, will get an amount N$5 million.

He said the Information and Communication Technology Development department within the ministry will receive N$8.7 million to, among others, formulate, review and assess the implementation of laws, policies and strategies pertaining to ICT. Mushelenga said the Print Media Affairs department will receive N$35 million to facilitate unhindered access to government information and nurture a symbiotic relationship between the ministry and the fourth estate.

In addition, he said, under this programme, the Nationhood and National Pride (NNP) Programme National Strategic Framework and its Implementation Plan for 2020-2025 were developed and officially launched by the Presidency at State House late last year. He said the two policy documents aim at setting new national deliverables and targets for the NNP endeavours in areas of nation building and patriotism. The ministry has allocated N$1 million towards this initiative.

For Audio-Visual Media and Regional Offices, Mushelenga said N$188 million has been allocated under which government information is gathered and produced in audiovisual and digital formats for ease of consumption by the public.

Furthermore, he said, the Namibia Film Commission (NFC) was allocated N$3 million to promote Namibia as a preferred filming destination and promote the local film industry.

“This stands as a tiny drop in the ocean, as more resources are needed for the development of filming studios to attract large films be shot within the country. Namibia needs an array of filming equipment for retention of revenue in the country and avert the current scenario, where we import every detailed item from South Africa,” he said. For the Coordination and Support department, Mushelenga said an amount of N$119 million is allocated.

He said a further N$371 million is earmarked for the ministry’s operational activities, whereas N$81 million will be utilised for the ministry’s development budget. Moreover, he said, N$23 million is earmarked for the completion of the ministry’s regional offices being constructed at Nkurenkuru in the Kavango West region and Katima Mulilo in the Zambezi region, as well as at Mariental in the Hardap region.