STVA BLOW AS SENIOR BOARD MEMBER QUITS

MBABANE – The Swaziland (Eswatini) Television Authority (STVA) Board has been dealt a blow as one of its members has resigned.

The member who has quit the board is Patronella Mamba, who is a senior employee of the Swaziland Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise (SWADE). Mamba, who is stationed in Big Bend, allegedly resigned from the board a day before the Minister of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT), Dumisani Ndlangamandla, announced a new chairperson. Ndlangamandla announced AM Recruitment Services Managing Director Carol Ngcobo last Wednesday as the new chairperson, taking over from Nozizwe Mulela, who was sacked from the position early this month. Mulela had assumed the chairperson role since  November 2015, when  the board was announced with other members including Prince Sicunusa Dlamini, Prince Msindazwe, Sipho Damini, Mxolisi Fakude, Turu Dube and Bongiwe Dlamini.

During the press conference, Mamba was not among the board members who were present to welcome the new chairperson. The reason behind her resignation could not be ascertained. Ndlangamandla confirmed the latest development but declined to share the reasons. He also confirmed that during the press conference, he was already aware that one  of the members had called it quits. “I received the letter on Tuesday, which was a day before the unveiling of the new chairperson. So yes, I do confirm that there is a need for a replacement as the board is now one person down,” he said. When Mamba was called for comment, she requested not to say anything about her decision to resign. “I do not have a comment to make, please refer to the minister,” she said.

The STVA is a broadcaster established in 1983 through an Act of Parliament. Before it was established, it was known as the Swaziland Television Broadcasting Corporation (STBC). The STBC was officially opened by His Majesty King Mswati III in February 1978, and this was the arrival of television in the kingdom. The establishment of the authority through the Act changed the television station into a public broadcaster. Its main mission is to provide viewers with impartial and informative news, education and entertainment programmes through technology that meets international standards, while promoting the country’s unique cultural identity in the regional and global stage.

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