News / National
Former ZBC presenter not impressed with BAZ's plans to open 12 TV station
20 Jan 2016 at 06:06hrs | Views
Former ZBC presenter Eric Knight has said the plans by Zimbabwe government to open 12 TV station at the time when the country is facing economic quagmire was ill timed as they are many ticking issues which the country must focus on to revive the economy.
"The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe recently announced that they are on the brink of licencing 12 new Television Stations in our country. I must admit that I am personally disillusioned by this plan. To be honest, the idea is badly timed and unnecessary at the moment. My country has bigger issues to address right now, that is the first reason. Its not a secret that the country is reeling under severe Economic and Governance problems," Knight said.
"The nation is hungry, people are jobless, companies are closing,national institutions are infested with detrimental proportions of corruption and consequently the nation is bleeding profusely. That is what people want to be addressed as a matter of urgency, not to tell them there will be a dozen more Television or Radio Stations soon. Its like a Father who hears that his children are starving at home, instead of buying food he buys toys for them! No child wants a toy when it is hungry. Secondly, what will the 12 TV stations be broadcasting that is so special?"
He said someone needs to be reminded that it is not the quantity of the stations that is of paramount importance, it is the quality in terms of content.
"Quality content is relative to a well functioning economy, both for Television and Radio. Someone needs to be corrected, freeing the airwaves does not mean having a thousand Radio and Television Stations, it means letting Broadcasters and the Media in its totality do their job to inform, educate and entertain freely without interference. It means allowing all media houses do their job without any allegiance to any Political Party, but the nation!" he said.
"This plan is either designed to divert attention from real pressing national issues, or it is meant to mislead all and sundry that Media reforms are indeed taking shape in Zimbabwe. Tipeiwo ma serious. Lingadlali ngengqondo zabantu please! Bread and Butter issues first, lets put our priorities right Comrades. This plan should be cancelled henceforth. By the way, I personally feel that my Zimbabwe does not need more that 4 Radio Stations and 3 Television stations at all, as long as they are easily accessible from boarder to boarder. I will explain this in my next dossier I am preparing about Broadcasting in Zimbabwe."
"The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe recently announced that they are on the brink of licencing 12 new Television Stations in our country. I must admit that I am personally disillusioned by this plan. To be honest, the idea is badly timed and unnecessary at the moment. My country has bigger issues to address right now, that is the first reason. Its not a secret that the country is reeling under severe Economic and Governance problems," Knight said.
"The nation is hungry, people are jobless, companies are closing,national institutions are infested with detrimental proportions of corruption and consequently the nation is bleeding profusely. That is what people want to be addressed as a matter of urgency, not to tell them there will be a dozen more Television or Radio Stations soon. Its like a Father who hears that his children are starving at home, instead of buying food he buys toys for them! No child wants a toy when it is hungry. Secondly, what will the 12 TV stations be broadcasting that is so special?"
He said someone needs to be reminded that it is not the quantity of the stations that is of paramount importance, it is the quality in terms of content.
"Quality content is relative to a well functioning economy, both for Television and Radio. Someone needs to be corrected, freeing the airwaves does not mean having a thousand Radio and Television Stations, it means letting Broadcasters and the Media in its totality do their job to inform, educate and entertain freely without interference. It means allowing all media houses do their job without any allegiance to any Political Party, but the nation!" he said.
"This plan is either designed to divert attention from real pressing national issues, or it is meant to mislead all and sundry that Media reforms are indeed taking shape in Zimbabwe. Tipeiwo ma serious. Lingadlali ngengqondo zabantu please! Bread and Butter issues first, lets put our priorities right Comrades. This plan should be cancelled henceforth. By the way, I personally feel that my Zimbabwe does not need more that 4 Radio Stations and 3 Television stations at all, as long as they are easily accessible from boarder to boarder. I will explain this in my next dossier I am preparing about Broadcasting in Zimbabwe."
Source - Byo24News
