GOVERNMENT’s move to stop licensing of new radio stations has infuriated media groups who see it as a ploy to shut out plurality and diversity in the broadcasting sector.
BY VENERANDA LANGA
Information, Media and Broadcasting Services minister Christopher Mushohwe last Thursday told the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Media and Information that he had suspended the licensing of new radio stations because some of the newly-licensed stations had failed to go on air.
But, the Zimbabwe Association of Community Radio Stations (Zacras) on Friday expressed dismay at the announcement, describing it as “anti-people”.
“This position is not in the interest of the spirit of broadcasting diversity and pluralism and it defeats the whole agenda to promote media freedom. In announcing this intention Mushohwe gave frivolous reasons which in our view highlight failure by government to play a facilitatory role in developing broadcasting media in Zimbabwe, particularly community broadcasting,” Zacras said.
The association said instead of suspending licensing, the government must assist the stations by creating a conducive environment where they could financially self-sustain and serve their communities.
“The plan to suspend the licensing of radio stations and community radios is in violation of sections 61 and 62 of the Constitution, which provide for free access to information and freedom of expression, and against the spirit and letter of the African Charter on Broadcasting which provides for a three tier broadcasting system,” Zacras said.
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Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) Zimbabwe said: “Government should allow those that have resources and the capacity to establish and run broadcasting stations to do so.”
“Failure by those that were licensed to go on air does not only point to harsh economic conditions, but flawed licensing regime and processes, which are vulnerable to political manipulation and used to seemingly grant licenses on the basis of political disposition and not merit,” Misa said in a statement.
Mushohwe’s deputy, Thokozile Mathuthu, meanwhile, told the National Assembly that the KPMG audit report on the ZBC had showed that problems at the institution emanated from bad corporate governance.
“The auditors noted that the institution did not have properly qualified staff at appropriate levels. To that end, Industrial Psychology Consultancy was engaged to recruit correctly qualified executives starting with the managing director. This is in progress and so far, ZBC has managed to recommend five out of the required seven executive posts,” she said.
