In our recent budget speech, we have made commitments. One, around the fact that the current board of the MDDA has four instead of nine members and we are going we fill the vacancies. The second issue was that the MDDA, we
committed ourselves through the budget speech that we have 12 vacancies and out of those 12, six of them are at an executive level, including the CEO which says to us that the institution does not have leadership.
Now in terms of wanting to manage resources, assisting the institution to live up to its mandate, you must ensure that vacancies are filled and the board is fully comprehensive and covered. We are currently in the process of filling the vacancies in the institution which also includes that one of the CEO and that will assist the institution to be able to monitor the money which we give out; to follow the money where it is and; to be able to funds projects which exist.
The other issue which the board is dealing with is that there have been a number of forensic reports which were brought forward in relation to alleged corruption and the board is fast tracking and ensuring that remedial actions are taken as per recommendations of independent bodies which conducted them. What we have also sought to do is that we have engaged the private sector that support of the MDDA beyond the financial muscle that we do as an institution, I have indicated that we have engaged them on other various projects which they can assist.
But as the MDDA, if we are able to give money to community radio stations and community print, how will the private sector, especially in your mainstream media platforms, they come on board in assisting the institution and our community radio stations with capacity building? How will they assist them with news gathering and how to run a reputable community radio station, a radio station which will be able to generate resources on its own beyond the funding that we give them? Thank you.