The annual general meeting of the Southern Africa Broadcasting Association [SABA] took place in Swaziland on 29 August, following the organisation’s second Digital Broadcasting Summit, hosted by Swazi TV. AIB CEO Simon Spanswick chaired the second day of the Summit.
Gender equality was one of the discussion points and SABA took the lead when it held elections for its board of directors and the appointment of the organisation’s new Secretary-General. Albertus Aochamub, D-G of Namibian Broadcasting Corporation, was appointed SABA President for a third term, while Ellen Nanuses – also from NBC – was appointed Secretary-General, succeeding long-serving Cecil Nguvauva.
The board elections resulted in four women being appointed:
- Ms Marlyn Garises – Chief Accounting Officer
- Ms Elisa Martin – Director of Programmes, Television Mozambique
- Ms Soondaree Devi Soborun – Deputy Director General, Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation
- Ms Thembi Hlope – Radio Programme Manager at Swaziland Broadcasting & Information Services
Appointments to the remaining positions were:
- Bontle Mogotlwane – Director, Broadcasting Services of Botswana
- Ambassador Dr Benson Tembo – Director General, Malawi Broadcasting Corporation
- Antoine Onezime – CEO, Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation
- Clement Mshana – Director General, Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation
“This is the first time that SABA’s membership has elected women to its board,” reports AIB CEO Simon Spanswick from the event just outside the Swazi capital of Mbabane. “It marks a major shift in thinking on the continent that is not known for gender equality. It’s an important, noteworthy step and the SABA membership is to be congratulated for putting gender equality at the very heart of the Association.”