News / National
'Zanu-PF should be reminded that the ZBC is a national entity': Daily News
15 Dec 2011 at 04:53hrs | Views
The Daily News reports that the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, ZBC's coverage of the just-ended Zanu-PF congress in Bulawayo was biased towards the Zanu-PF, making it loo
According to the newspaper for the duration that the congress took place, ZBC was literally camped at the congress' venue, reporting every inch of the proceedings on television and all radio stations.
A visitor to Zimbabwe would have been forgiven to think that the just-ended Zanu-PF congress was a national event.
Resources were splashed at ease with hundreds of police officers manning roadblocks.
During the congress, ZBC's only diary seemed to be this gathering of Zanu-PF's 6 000 delegates.
This was contrary to ZBC's coverage, if any, of the MDC's congress held earlier this year.
The difference in the coverage of both parties' congresses has exposed the ZBC's misplaced sense of national duty by behaving like an extension of Zanu-PF.
Was ZBC going to cover an MDC congress live on television at which every other official denounced President Robert Mugabe and Zanu-PF?
Throughout its congress Zanu-PF denounced Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai openly and live on television shouting Pasi naTsvangirai, Pasi neMDC!
I dare ask again: Would ZBC staff have survived a day at the corporation had they screened live an MDC congress where its members would denounce Mugabe and openly shout: Pasi naMugabe, Pasi neZanu-PF?
But why should Zanu-PF behave like they own ZBC?
Why should engagements and speeches by Zanu-PF be the only news at ZBC when it is supposed to be a national broadcaster?
The ZBC has been on the forefront when it comes to promoting Zanu-PF propaganda material which includes war documentaries and the numerous songs it airs every other minute.
The music videos and songs that praise Mugabe and Zanu-PF have been turned into standard jingles at ZBC.
But what has happened to MDC music videos and songs?
What has happened to other songs by independent minded musicians?
The ZBC should change its attitude towards political parties that oppose Zanu-PF otherwise their open bias will continue to chase away potential advertisers.
The ZBC is known to be broke and using old equipment, but Zimbabweans should be forgiven to ask whether Zanu-PF paid for all the time that it took control of broadcasting slots during the Zanu-PF congress.
How much, if I may ask, did ZBC lose in terms of revenue during the time the Zanu-PF congress proceedings dominated programming?
Why should Zanu-PF not pay for the time on air because in all fairness that time they "stole" from the broadcaster costs thousands of dollars, if not millions?
Zanu-PF should be reminded that the ZBC is a national entity, publicly financed by ordinary Zimbabweans through taxes.
ZBC is not financed by Zanu-PF - period!
According to the newspaper for the duration that the congress took place, ZBC was literally camped at the congress' venue, reporting every inch of the proceedings on television and all radio stations.
A visitor to Zimbabwe would have been forgiven to think that the just-ended Zanu-PF congress was a national event.
Resources were splashed at ease with hundreds of police officers manning roadblocks.
During the congress, ZBC's only diary seemed to be this gathering of Zanu-PF's 6 000 delegates.
This was contrary to ZBC's coverage, if any, of the MDC's congress held earlier this year.
The difference in the coverage of both parties' congresses has exposed the ZBC's misplaced sense of national duty by behaving like an extension of Zanu-PF.
Was ZBC going to cover an MDC congress live on television at which every other official denounced President Robert Mugabe and Zanu-PF?
Throughout its congress Zanu-PF denounced Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai openly and live on television shouting Pasi naTsvangirai, Pasi neMDC!
I dare ask again: Would ZBC staff have survived a day at the corporation had they screened live an MDC congress where its members would denounce Mugabe and openly shout: Pasi naMugabe, Pasi neZanu-PF?
But why should Zanu-PF behave like they own ZBC?
Why should engagements and speeches by Zanu-PF be the only news at ZBC when it is supposed to be a national broadcaster?
The ZBC has been on the forefront when it comes to promoting Zanu-PF propaganda material which includes war documentaries and the numerous songs it airs every other minute.
The music videos and songs that praise Mugabe and Zanu-PF have been turned into standard jingles at ZBC.
But what has happened to MDC music videos and songs?
What has happened to other songs by independent minded musicians?
The ZBC should change its attitude towards political parties that oppose Zanu-PF otherwise their open bias will continue to chase away potential advertisers.
The ZBC is known to be broke and using old equipment, but Zimbabweans should be forgiven to ask whether Zanu-PF paid for all the time that it took control of broadcasting slots during the Zanu-PF congress.
How much, if I may ask, did ZBC lose in terms of revenue during the time the Zanu-PF congress proceedings dominated programming?
Why should Zanu-PF not pay for the time on air because in all fairness that time they "stole" from the broadcaster costs thousands of dollars, if not millions?
Zanu-PF should be reminded that the ZBC is a national entity, publicly financed by ordinary Zimbabweans through taxes.
ZBC is not financed by Zanu-PF - period!
Source - Daily News
