News / National
ZTV criticised over Zanu-PF coverage
25 Jul 2013 at 05:19hrs | Views
Independent media watchdog the Media Monitoring Project Zimbabwe (MMPZ) has criticised the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) for allocating more time on its main evening news section to Zanu-PF while Welshman Ncube's MDC and other smaller parties have been ignored..
ZBC has been carrying live broadcasts of all President Robert Mugabe's provincial campaigns.
"Since MMPZ started its daily reports on the media's coverage of election issues on Monday, July 15, ZTV, the national public broadcaster's flagship television station, has exposed the extent of its bias in favour of Zanu-PF, granting a total of more than 90 minutes in its main evening news bulletins in the week to favourable reports of the party's activities, compared to little more than 10 minutes of mostly negative coverage for its main rival the MDC-T.
"The MDC-N and other smaller parties such as ZAPU and the ZDP have received barely five minutes in coverage in the seven bulletins monitored," MMPZ said.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) issued a statement saying it will take appropriate action against media houses and journalists for unbalanced and unfair reporting.
The MMPZ said the ZEC should live up to its promise and act against the state controlled ZTV "to curb this unprofessional conduct from the public broadcaster."
Since the formation of the inclusive government, both MDC formations have been calling for media reforms but Zanu-PF has been stalling the process.
ZBC has been carrying live broadcasts of all President Robert Mugabe's provincial campaigns.
"Since MMPZ started its daily reports on the media's coverage of election issues on Monday, July 15, ZTV, the national public broadcaster's flagship television station, has exposed the extent of its bias in favour of Zanu-PF, granting a total of more than 90 minutes in its main evening news bulletins in the week to favourable reports of the party's activities, compared to little more than 10 minutes of mostly negative coverage for its main rival the MDC-T.
"The MDC-N and other smaller parties such as ZAPU and the ZDP have received barely five minutes in coverage in the seven bulletins monitored," MMPZ said.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) issued a statement saying it will take appropriate action against media houses and journalists for unbalanced and unfair reporting.
The MMPZ said the ZEC should live up to its promise and act against the state controlled ZTV "to curb this unprofessional conduct from the public broadcaster."
Since the formation of the inclusive government, both MDC formations have been calling for media reforms but Zanu-PF has been stalling the process.
Source - radiodialogue
