News / National
BAZ radio licences illegal and illegitimate - MDC-T
25 Nov 2011 at 13:56hrs | Views
MDC-T has dismisses the awarding of two free to air licences by the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) to Zimpapers and Supa Mandiwanzira's AB Communications as a political farce.
MDC-T says the granting of these licences was clearly predictable and is nothing but a desperate attempt by Zanu PF to tighten its grip on the airwaves and closing the space for genuine independent broadcasters.
The awards have been made only to those organisations linked to Zanu PF. MDC-T says it is dismayed that the country's airwaves remain shackled with a shameful monopoly by Zanu PF.
It says its position is that the re-appointment of Zanu PF apologist, Tafataona Mahoso as the chairperson of BAZ by the Minister of Media Information and Publicity, Webster Shamu was designed to ensure that these licenses were not fairly awarded.
MDC-T demand that BAZ be urgently re-constituted so that Zimbabwe has genuine independent broadcasters not Zanu PF sympathisers. It added that the situation that Zimbabwe is in does not advance media freedom.
"The shameful monopoly by Zanu PF of the country's airwaves should be stopped and the airwaves liberalised," added MDC-T.
The satellite dishes that perch on almost every house in the urban areas and even thatched huts in our villages and farms are a major indictment on the Zimbabwe's broadcasting industry.
"Zimbabweans need a plural and diverse media so that the hard-working citizens of this country can make well – informed choices," concluded the statement.
MDC-T says the granting of these licences was clearly predictable and is nothing but a desperate attempt by Zanu PF to tighten its grip on the airwaves and closing the space for genuine independent broadcasters.
The awards have been made only to those organisations linked to Zanu PF. MDC-T says it is dismayed that the country's airwaves remain shackled with a shameful monopoly by Zanu PF.
It says its position is that the re-appointment of Zanu PF apologist, Tafataona Mahoso as the chairperson of BAZ by the Minister of Media Information and Publicity, Webster Shamu was designed to ensure that these licenses were not fairly awarded.
"The shameful monopoly by Zanu PF of the country's airwaves should be stopped and the airwaves liberalised," added MDC-T.
The satellite dishes that perch on almost every house in the urban areas and even thatched huts in our villages and farms are a major indictment on the Zimbabwe's broadcasting industry.
"Zimbabweans need a plural and diverse media so that the hard-working citizens of this country can make well – informed choices," concluded the statement.
Source - Byo24News
