When two dogs fight for a bone, every now and then a third one comes around, sees the bone lying on the ground and walks away with it. Will this be the case in the power struggle playing out in the corridors of Makhado FM?

The licencing authority, Icasa, was asked about the state of affairs at the station this week. Surprisingly enough they did not recognise either Takalani Khomola or Makonde Mbedzi as being the current station manager, but rather the previously ousted manager, Moses Muneri.

Muneri was suspended earlier this year and charges of theft were laid against him after he was accused of stealing a transmitter. Sources within the radio station described it as a conspiracy to get rid of him and said the charges were fabricated. The case is still pending.

Since his departure, the power struggle in the top echelons of the station have intensified. First Mr Takalani Khomola claimed to be the new driving force behind the station and the one who would get it on a path where it could start paying presenters and get rid of its debt. Some three weeks ago, however, a new board was elected and Khomola was suspended. He was succeeded by Makonde Mbedzi, who was appointed as acting station manager.

Amidst all of this, the station's financial situation was questioned, especially the failure to produce audited financial statements for a couple of years. During the meeting three weeks ago, described as an annual general meeting, no financial statements were available. Khomola first indicated to some people that he would resign during this meeting but later claimed that he was still the station manager.

The national spokesperson of ICASA, Mr Paseka Maleka, said this week  that, as far as they knew, Muneri was the legitimate station manager. He was responding to a number of questions emailed to him last week.

Maleka said that ICASA also did not recognise the recently elected board. "We were not informed about the new board. We were told that the AGM that was to be held two weeks ago was postponed. We were never told about the election of the new board," he said.

He added that ICASA only recognised the board that was elected in 2010. When asked about the lack of financial reporting to the community, Maleka said that proper processes had not been followed. "It is also a legal requirement for any community broadcaster to present the financial records and statements at the AGM, to allow the community or stakeholders to interrogate them where possible," he said.

He said that every licence that ICASA issued to any entity had terms and conditions that had to be complied with. "ICASA has the responsibility to ensure compliance thereof. The terms and conditions of community broadcasting includes, among others, community participation in the form of establishing programming or editorial committees and attendance of general meetings." He added that if the licence holder did not have any such structures in place, this would be considered non-compliance. Maleka said that ICASA would intervene in this regard.

Makhado FM's programme manager, Mr Mbedzi, said that the new board was elected without the knowledge of ICASA because Khomola had misled the organisation. "We have made an appointment with ICASA, so that we can submit the names of the new board members," he said. Mbedzi said he could not comment further and that our reporter should contact Luonde Media Resources Centre CEO Mr Junior Ramovha, who was not available for comment.

Khomola said this week that he was going back to work on Monday as acting station manager. The station does not currently have a station manager or anyone acting in the position, Khomola said.

ICASA's spokesperson was also asked about the station's reputation of not paying presenters and allowing debt to build up. Maleka said that ICASA could not get involved in this regard. Muneri was not available for comment.