'Trevor Ncube's Skyz FM driven by profit not development'

CARRYSLOT (Pvt) Ltd, trading as Skyz FM and fronted by Media mogul Trevor Ncube is driven by profit and not the cultural development side of the concept, the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe said during the ongoing public interviews for Bulawayo's sole commercial radio licence held in the city today.

Fair Talk Communications (Pvt) Ltd, trading as SKYZ Metro FM, and Skies Radio (Pvt) Ltd, trading as Skies FM, made their presentations yesterday with both applicants receiving a tough grilling from BAZ on issues of sustainability of the station while Skyz FM presented its bid today.

Ncube who is the shareholder of Alpha Media Holdings that publishes the Southern Eye, Newsday, Standard and The Zimbabwe Independent said they had chosen Bulawayo because they had already had strong presence in the city through the Southern Eye stable which was mooted ostensibly to address the region's development issues.

However his radio concept as presented today suffered a backlash for having a seeming bias on profit-making than cultural development of the region.

"Your concept (radio) makes sense in terms of profit making but its cultural development side is questionable," said Chivaura one of the BAZ commissioners during a question and answer session.

"In your application before us you said you will use English as the prime language of broadcasting but do you think it is good to discuss our African culture in English?

"Can you tell this commission and the public what ethnicity means or what African values are in Ndebele, Shona, Kalanga or Venda,? asked Chivaura adding; "Why do you want to use only English when our constitution recognises 16 languages as official?"

Ncube was also grilled on why he wanted to cross over from the print media - where he has arguably established himself as a key player.

"In your application you stated that you were crossing over from print to broadcast. Although cross-over is now allowed in Zimbabwe it doesn't mean that the problems which were in the past associated with gross ownership no longer exist so we need an assurance from you that this will not affect your opearations," BAZ chairman Tafataona Mahoso quizzed the applicants.

In response Ncube said: "We will make sure that the editorial side of our print publications do not interfere with the radio operations. It will be totally autonomous."

The applicants were also quizzed on why they had not brought evidence of engagement with the Bulawayo community - where they sought to operate.

"You might have the Southern Eye in Bulawayo but where is the link with the Bulawayo community in this radio project," Charity Moyo a legal expert sitting on the commissioner's bench quizzed.

"We did carry out a research as indicated in the electronic presentation on what the Bulawayo community wanted and we are ready to provide that information with 7 days if this commission agrees," the applicants said.

The applicants were also grilled on why the hire an ombudsman - which in the view of the commission did not serve the public but the organisation's public relations.

"You have an ombudsman in your stable AMH but in our view that ombudsman does public relations for you than protecting the public against publication of material that is against the founding values of the constitution," Mahoso said.

In response the applicants said they would guard against broadcasting of material which violates the rights of the public and that their ombudsman plays fosters social accountability buy ensuring that their media houses adheres to acceptable journalism standards.

 Early this year the NewsDay was under fire for publishing pictures alleged to be jailed prophet Gumbura's children on their front page, drawing the ire of the public.

Issues of majority shareholding were also interrogated with the public demanding to know why Ncube was a majority shareholder in the radio firm. However, applicants demystified the concern by stating that Ncube representing the Vusumuzi Family Trust which is the major share holder in the firm.

Similar to Skies Radio fronted by Ezra Tshisa Sibanda, the applicants had a lot of inconsistencies which were required to address within 7days.

On Friday BAZ will conduct public interviews in Victoria Falls where Breeze FM is the sole contender for the commercial radio licences.

Asked when the commission will publish results of the successful applicant, BAZ was non-committal.