Advertisers should boycott Zim's New Radio Stations: MDC Youth

The Movement for Democratic (MDC T) youth assembly has called on advertisers to boycott AB Communications and Zimpapers once they start broadcasting to protest against the licensing of the Zanu (PF) linked radio stations by the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ).

The BAZ last month came under heavy criticism after it granted radio operating licences to AB Communications, a company owned by Supa Mandiwanzira, a supporter of Zanu (PF), and to state run media group regarded as Zanu PF's and President Robert Mugabe's mouthpiece, Zimpapers.

BAZ said other applicants to operate independent radio licences, Radio VOP and Kiss FM did not meet the criteria to be granted the licences, in what the Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai's office said "is a farce that flies in the face of true media reforms and media plurality in Zimbabwe."

Critics say the two will never be able to operate independently because of their close ties to Zanu-PF and the state which has a majority stake at Zimpapers. But Mandiwanzira, who has a controlling stake at AB Communications,has denied the charge and called on Zimbabweans to "give him a chance to broadcast and then judge him later."