Tsvangirai to meet other principals over the awarding of broadcasting licences

Premier Morgan Tsvangirai said he will soon meet with other principals over the awarding of broadcasting licences to 2 players aligned to Zanu-PF.

He told the Zimbabwe ICT Achievers of the Year ceremony in Harare on Saturday that the awarding of licences to Zimpapers and AB Communications was a "farce that flies in the face of true media reforms."

THE Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe awarded Zimbabwe Newspapers and AB Communications free-to-air  broadcasting national radio licenses.

BAZ chairperson Dr Tafataona Mahoso said the awarding of licences to the two firms followed a thorough adjudication process that saw them scoring higher points among the four shortlisted applicants.

The four companies are AB Communications (Zi Radio), Zimpapers (Zimpapers Talk Radio), Hot Media (Kiss FM) and Vox Media (VOP FM).

MDC-T also dismisses the awarding of two free to air licences by the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) to Zimpapers and Supa Mandiwanzira's AB Communications as a political farce.

MDC-T said the granting of these licences was clearly predictable and is nothing but a desperate attempt by Zanu PF to tighten its grip on the airwaves and closing the space for genuine independent broadcasters.

ZAPU said it was saddened by the awarding of national radio licences to Zimpapers and AB Communications by the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe.

"Zimpapers' manipulation and domination by Zanu-PF functionaries, and AB Communications chief executive officer Supa Mandiwanzira's personal and economic ties with Zanu-PF are well-known. Clearly, the two players are just coming in to buttress what ZBC is doing: supporting Zanu-PF all the way," said Zapu in a statement.