Zimbabwe: ZBC blackout on opposition leader

Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn (MKD) party leader Simba Makoni has attacked the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) for not airing an interview that was recorded in 2009 with Super Mandiwanzira under the state-controlled broadcaster’s Talking Business programme.

 

According to the weekly Standard’s edition of 20-26 June 2010, Makoni was interviewed towards the end of 2009 and the interview has still not been aired almost seven months later.

 

In the interview, a recording of which was made available to the Standard, Makoni said the inclusive government of President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai had failed “dismally” because it did not have tangible policies of its own. He also spoke about why he left Zanu PF led by President Mugabe to challenge him in the presidential polls in 2008.

 

ZBC general manager for news and current affairs Tarzen Mandizvidza, said he was not aware that the interview had been banned. “Super is an independent producer and we are not responsible for his output,” said Mandizvidza. “But there is no reason why it should not be aired. Everyone is coming out on television.”

 

Makoni said the media blackouts were harming his party as ZBC was not covering their activities. “We have not been very visible as a party because our media has not been covering our activities. We find our messages being covered more by foreign channels and media such as VOP (Radio Voice of the People) than local outlets,” he said.

 

Makoni is a former minister of Finance.

 

MISA Position

 

ZBC will only be able to fulfill its public service mandate by transforming from a state-controlled broadcaster as stipulated under the African Charter on Broadcasting as opposed to its current status where the Executive is directly involved in the appointment of its board and management. //End//

 

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Reagan Malumo

Programme Specialist: Media Freedom Monitoring and Research

Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Regional Secretariat

21 Johann Albrecht St

Private Bag 13386

Windhoek

Namibia

Phone: +264 61 232 975

Fax: +264 61 248 016

Mobile: +264 81 311 2626

Official Email: reagan@misa.org

Private Email: reagan32002@yahoo.com

 

- June 23, 2010 by MISA

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Source: www.misa.org (received via mail alert 23.06.10)