Issuing of commercial broadcasting licences lacks transparency: Misa

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) has welcome the development but disagreed with the secretive manner in which Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (Baz) is dealing with the determination of successful applicants for commercial broadcasting licence in Zimbabwe.

The national director of Misa, Nhlanhla Ngwenya told Daily News yesterday that they are happy that the process has started but Misa is calling for the authority to complete the whole process as soon as possible and bring the whole matter to finality.

Ngwenya said they would have wanted to see a publicity campaign so that people would come and attend the hearings because it is the people's process.

"The problem is that they did not give us a full schedule on who was going to be heard when. What is worrying is the lack of transparency in this public process," said Nhlanhla Ngwenya.

This came after prominent musician Oliver "Tuku" Mtukudzi, BancAbc boss Douglas Munatsi, businesswoman Sharon Mugabe, legendary broadcasters Musi Khumalo, Tony Ndoro, George Munetsi and television personality Bertha Charuma  made their submissions before the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (Baz) yesterday at a public hearing held in Harare.