Ezra Tshisa Sibanda's Skiez FM displays poor show

Skies Radio (Pvt) Ltd, trading as Skies FM  and fronted by Ezra Tshisa Sibanda has displayed a jumbled presentation late this afternoon as the bidders tried frantically to convince the radio licensing board during public interviews held at Rainbow in Bulawayo.

Early in the morning, Fairtalk Communications trading as Skyz Metro FM and fronted by Dr. Qhuani Moyo and veteran arts director Cont Mhlanga underwent the same exercise with a seemingly convincing show.
But Skies FM which was represented by Netsai Gumede spent the whole afternoon struggling to make their presentation.

The presentation which dealt more on the survey and research part of the concept was characterized by contradictory statements and inconsistencies. The panel representing the station took an average of two minutes to respond to each question paused by the panel of commissioners led by the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) chairperson Dr. Tafataona Mahoso.

The "apology" mantra characterized each statements made by the station's panel speakers.
One of the inconsistencies which the station struggled to clarify concerned the withdrawal of the station's front man Sibanda from the list of directors.

According to Gumede, who is of the station's directors, Sibanda sold out his 30 percent shares to Velaphi Mlangeni and became the chief executive officer of the station.

But Charity Moyo, a legal expert who was one of BAZ commissioners grilled the station for making changes awkwardly without submitting amendments to the commission.

"Applicants please note that this commission is only going to rely on information that you submitted and not information that you are narrating now," she said. Can you kindly clarify to the commission and the public the position of Ezra Tshisa Sibanda whom you generously mention in your application as director as opposed to a letter dated January 27 which you wrote to withdraw his directorship in the station."

In response Gumede said: "We will write to the commission to clarify that."

The financial statements of the applicants also gave them problems as they struggled to respond to questions from the commissioners.

At the end all what the applicants could say to several questions paused was "we will proceed and make amendments" making the public inquiry something of the comedy as one of the commissioners jokingly said, "I hope with all the experience of your team leaders totaling 100 years you can come up with something better.

In her introduction, Gumede has said the experience that Sibanda and other members of the statio had in broadcast totaled 100 years, drawing laughter from the audience which spent the afternoon in stitches.
Tommorrow Carryslot (Pvt) Ltd trading as Skyz FM and fronted by media mogul Trevor Ncube will undergo the same exercise before BAZ proceeds to Victoria Falls where Breeze FM is the only shortlisted firm.