SWAPO has finally succeeded to push out acting Namibian Broadcasting Corporation Director General Matthew //Gowaseb in favour of three party faithfulls among them Oshana Governor Clemence Kashuupulwa, editor of Swapo mouthpiece Namibia Today, Asser Ntinda; and the broadcaster’s acting board chairperson, Frieda Shimbuli.

Some media reports this week had indicated that //Gowaseb had tendered his resignation protesting the reversal of his staff reshuffle at NBC.
Reliable sources close to //Gowaseb, however, told Informanté yesterday that he has not resigned but is serving out his term as acting director general until 26 January 2010.
“He did not resign but offered to serve his full term without an option of renewal.”
The source said the board had offered him a six-month extension during Monday’s meeting to pave way for an in-coming DG but //Gowaseb turned them down.
“//Gowaseb said he could no longer continue because of all the political interference,” the source said adding that Information Technology Minister Joël Kaapanda is allegedly begging //Gowaseb to stay on.
“He (//Gowaseb) says it’s hell being at NBC and that he would be happy at his old job. His refusal to stay on is not because of the redeployment nor is it about the possible appointment of a new DG,,” the source said.
Kaapanda yesterday distanced himself from the ‘commotion’ at the national broadcaster saying he has never been involved.
“I think Informanté does not have anything important to report on so go ahead and quote me that I am not involved at anything happening at NBC. I am not aware of any current events and reports circulating but am not implicated in that commotion,” he said.
//Gowaseb’s reign at NBC hit the wall when he redeployed Claudia Iikela and Tobias Kandanga in December last year who allegedly ran to protest the move to former President and Founding Father Dr Sam Nujoma and Kaapanda.
The NBC board held a meeting where //Gowaseb, who had threatened to resign if the redeployments were reversed, allegedly received support and approval of his changes.
A source within Swapo has, however, said //Gowaseb is short tempered and broke the trust within the broadcaster by overlooking a set management structure by dealing directly with juniors.
“There is no political interference. It’s just that //Gowaseb is short tempered and because he associated with juniors such as Lahja Kandongo while overlooking Claudia,” the source said yesterday.
Shimbuli whose term as board member expires in March refused to comment when contacted saying that she was busy watching the NBC news.
“Madam you caught me at a bad time as I am busy watching the news,” said Shimbuli
Kashuupulwa demanded that Informanté apologise for a damaging article about him last year on door-to-door election campaign in Oshana.
“I am not going to comment on any matter because your reporting is damaging and until you apologise on paper about the article you carried, I cannot assist you,” he said. 
Ntinda could not be reached for comment since his phone was off.