News / National
Liberalize airwaves to stop pirate radio stations: Timba
31 Jul 2011 at 16:01hrs | Views
Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, Jameson Timba said that the only solution to stop external radio stations broadcasting into Zimbabwe is to liberalize the airwaves and establish a true public broadcaster that is not going to be abused by a single political party.
He was speaking at the Radio Broadcasting Conference taking place in Johannesburg.
The existence of external radio stations broadcasting into Zimbabwe has come under the spotlight as the debate on the prospects of broadcasting reforms continues.
The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation has often been accused of being aligned to Zanu-PF and being biased against other political parties. Prospective broadcasters wishing to operate in Zimbabwe have failed to do so due to the unavailability of broadcasting licenses.
Timba blamed Zanu-PF for the continued resistance at efforts aimed to open the airwaves.
Christopher Mutsvangwa, a member of the Zimbabwe Media Commission, challenged Timba's view on the existence of external radio stations arguing that they have a so-called western agenda.
Gerry Jackson, the founder of SW Radio Africa, disagreed arguing that the only reason why these radio stations are operating outside Zimbabwe is simply because ZBC has been given monopoly over the airwaves since 1980.
He was speaking at the Radio Broadcasting Conference taking place in Johannesburg.
The existence of external radio stations broadcasting into Zimbabwe has come under the spotlight as the debate on the prospects of broadcasting reforms continues.
Timba blamed Zanu-PF for the continued resistance at efforts aimed to open the airwaves.
Christopher Mutsvangwa, a member of the Zimbabwe Media Commission, challenged Timba's view on the existence of external radio stations arguing that they have a so-called western agenda.
Gerry Jackson, the founder of SW Radio Africa, disagreed arguing that the only reason why these radio stations are operating outside Zimbabwe is simply because ZBC has been given monopoly over the airwaves since 1980.
Source - VOA
