News / National
ZBC demands $1,5 million to air MDC election adverts
06 Jul 2018 at 08:28hrs | Views
ASPIRING MDC Alliance MP for Mbizo, Settlement Chikwinya has rebuked the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) for allegedly demanding prohibitive advertising fees from the opposition.
The opposition is keen to flight adverts with the State controlled broadcaster ahead of the July 30 general elections.
If the main opposition group were to comply with charges demanded until elections, Chikwinya said, it would need have to cough out up to $1,5 million in airtime fees.
"Which political party in this failing economy can afford such high rates?" Chikwinya said while addressing Kwekwe journalists Wednesday.
"We took a quotation from ZTV for our advertising. What we discovered in ridiculous.
"The MDC Alliance will need to fork out daily $57,936 for us to be able to have between today and the day of elections for us to be able to have 48, five minutes slots, two times a day during breakfast and evening times."
The outspoken politician, who once chaired parliament's media and information committee, said ZBC radio stations were also demanding prohibitive airtime.
Chikwinya said it was sad there was restricted media space in the country, something which impacted on the possibility of the country seeing through free and fair elections.
Chikwinya accused Zanu PF of closing media space at a time it has been reported the country had capacity to have 56 television stations broadcasting at the same time.
The opposition is keen to flight adverts with the State controlled broadcaster ahead of the July 30 general elections.
If the main opposition group were to comply with charges demanded until elections, Chikwinya said, it would need have to cough out up to $1,5 million in airtime fees.
"Which political party in this failing economy can afford such high rates?" Chikwinya said while addressing Kwekwe journalists Wednesday.
"We took a quotation from ZTV for our advertising. What we discovered in ridiculous.
"The MDC Alliance will need to fork out daily $57,936 for us to be able to have between today and the day of elections for us to be able to have 48, five minutes slots, two times a day during breakfast and evening times."
The outspoken politician, who once chaired parliament's media and information committee, said ZBC radio stations were also demanding prohibitive airtime.
Chikwinya said it was sad there was restricted media space in the country, something which impacted on the possibility of the country seeing through free and fair elections.
Chikwinya accused Zanu PF of closing media space at a time it has been reported the country had capacity to have 56 television stations broadcasting at the same time.
Source - newzimbabwe
