Ezra Sibanda, Mduduzi Mathuthu in tweeter war

Ezra 'Tshisa' Sibanda, the Chief Executive Offcier of one of Bulawayo aspiring commercial radio station Skies FM was last night embroiled in a Twitter 'war' with Chronicle Editor Mduduzi Mathuthu after the latter appeared to suggest Skies FM hired an audience to back them up at a public hearing held in Bulawayo yesterday.

Sibanda was part of Skies FM team that made a pitch to the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe.

In exchanges gleaned on their accounts, Mathuthu using his handle @Mathuthu tweeted, "No free seat at the Bulawayo Rainbow. Strategic clapping, all rather choreographed. If you know a rent-crowd audience, this is one".

He added "Rent-a-crowd at the BAZ commercial radio licence hearing. Someone just asked Skies FM which bank financing them, howls of protest".

Sibanda hit back under @EZRATSHISA handle saying, "@Mathuthu it looks like your agenda was to see Skies FM's demise and you were disappointed the project is supported by the people".

One follower said "They bussed dozens of people here it seems RT "@VeeMasi: @Mathuthu Skies FM team sent ducking for cover heh?"

Sibanda's links with Skies FM owned by Transport Minister Obert Mpofu has raised eyebrows politically. Sibanda is a well-known opposition, MDC-T, member who lost in 2013 parliamentary election in Vungu constituency.

Skyz Metro FM fronted by Continueloving Mhlanga and Qhubani Moyo and Skyz FM fronted by Trevor Ncube who owns Alpha Media Holdings, publishers of Southern Eye, NewsDay, The Standard and Zimbabwe Independent are the other two companies vying for the single radio licence.