WORKERS at embattled Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) are calling for the parastatal to cut salaries and benefits for management to allow the organisation to qualify for a government guarantee that will enable it to access loans from financial institutions and pay salaries.
BY POLITICAL EDITOR
ZBC employees have gone for five months without pay.
Well-placed sources at the State broadcaster told NewsDay yesterday that various departments held meetings on Friday last week to get input from employees and prepare a consolidated document to be forwarded to the Ministry of Media, Information and Broadcasting Services.
“It was in these meetings that most workers raised the issue of management’s remuneration which we feel are far too high compared to what other workers here are getting and also taking into account the fact that ZBC is not making much money,” a source said.
Senior managers at ZBC were reportedly earning more than $20 000 per month, while reporters and other staff are paid less than $1 000.
Contacted for comment, ZBC public relations manager Sivukile Simango could not confirm or deny the reports, but admitted that a series of meetings were being held at the State broadcaster to find solutions to their crisis.
“I can neither confirm nor deny what you are asking, but all I can say is that there have been a series of meetings going on here and those meetings’ objective is to ensure that the welfare of staff is addressed as a matter of urgency. We sincerely hope we are going to address the salary issue as soon as possible,” said Simango.
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Last week, Media, Information and Broadcasting Services deputy minister Supa Mandiwanzira held a meeting with the corporation’s management where he emphasised the urgent need to pay employees.
Last month, Mandiwanzira’s boss Jonathan Moyo also came hard on the State broadcaster, saying it was unacceptable for the employees not to be paid.
Moyo proceeded to dissolve the ZBC board and sent chief executive officer Happison Muchechetere and other senior staffers on forced leave to pave way for a forensic audit that is set to establish how funds and assets were handled by management.
