×
NewsDay

AMH is an independent media house free from political ties or outside influence. We have four newspapers: The Zimbabwe Independent, a business weekly published every Friday, The Standard, a weekly published every Sunday, and Southern and NewsDay, our daily newspapers. Each has an online edition.

Mahoso rebukes Nguni over MDC-T slur

Politics
Zanu PF activist and political analyst Goodson Nguni was on Tuesday dressed down by fellow party member and chairperson of the Broadcasting Authority Zimbabwe (BAZ) Dr Tafataona Mahoso, who ruled him out of order during a public hearing on the application for a radio station by journalist-cum-businessman Supa Mandiwanzira. Nguni asked whether Mandiwanzira’s AB Communications […]

Zanu PF activist and political analyst Goodson Nguni was on Tuesday dressed down by fellow party member and chairperson of the Broadcasting Authority Zimbabwe (BAZ) Dr Tafataona Mahoso, who ruled him out of order during a public hearing on the application for a radio station by journalist-cum-businessman Supa Mandiwanzira.

Nguni asked whether Mandiwanzira’s AB Communications would play songs and jingles composed by the MDC-T which he alleged denigrated heroes of the country’s liberation war. Mahoso ruled him out of order.

“Part of the question was unfair because it includes a name of a political party. How ZiFM is going to select songs is for you to answer in terms of your policy. If you start throwing names of political parties, it’s unfair,” said Mahoso to applause from the audience. Mandiwanzira said his radio station would play music that was popular with Zimbabweans and would not denigrate anyone.

“There should be no obscenity and we will play what the audiences want to hear,” Mandiwanzira said. “We are not there to fan divisions and disunity and we don’t stand for anything that divides the people.”

Mandiwanzira dismissed speculation he was running for political office, saying the media was misleading people on the issue.

“I have read in newspapers that I am running for political office, but you can’t take everything you get from the media seriously.

“How many times has my wife been married to (Democratic Republic of Congo President Laurent) Kabila? “It’s only the media that misrepresent facts. It’s clear that the people of Nyanga want me to join politics, but there is a difference between people wanting you to join politics and joining politics,” he said.

Mandiwanzira is the biggest shareholder in ZiFM with 70% shares followed by Herbert Nkala with 15%, Urban Brew, a South African company, with 10% and Molice Mandinyenya with 5%, making it 90% Zimbabwean-owned.

BAZ, chaired by Mahoso, is expected to conduct one more public hearing in respect of an application by Radio VOP.

The BAZ panel, which was constituted in terms of the Commissions of Inquiry Act and the Broadcasting Services Act section 10 (8), comprised commissioners:

Mahoso, Chief Gambiza, Colonel Reuben Mqwayi, Erica Mususa, Dr Vimbai Chivaura, Charity Moyo Dr Chada, Edward Dube, Rev Mutuvira and Eng Obert Muganyura.