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MDC-T calls for disbandment of BAZ over radio licensing scandal
05 Mar 2015 at 16:24hrs | Views
THE MOVEMENT for Democratic Change led by the former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has called for the disbandment of the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe with immediate effect.
The MDC-T claims that the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) is a statutory body that the Zanu-PF regime has packed with regime apologists and die-hard Zanu-PF functionaries such as one Tafataona Mahoso; the BAZ chairperson.
MDC-T says its is a shameful anachronism to have BAZ being chaired by the calibre of Mahoso.
"In the digital age that we are living in, it is a shameful anachronism to have the BAZ being chaired by someone of the calibre of Mahoso, a complete and unrepentant Zanu-PF sycophant who will do everything within his power to thwart and suppress freedom of expression and freedom of the media," said the MDC-T.
The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) recently announced that five companies with very strong links to the Zanu-PF regime have been awarded licences to operate commercial radio stations in eight selected urban centres.
The MDC said it takes note of the fact that both ZiFM and Star FM are strongly linked to the Zanu-PF regime.
"Infact, these two national radio stations are a de facto extention of the Zanu-PF propaganda machinery."
"It is, therefore, totally unacceptable to have AB Communications, a rather shady company with some links to the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), being awarded two licences to run commercial radio stations in Masvingo and Mutare. Similarly, Zimpapers, the owners of the perennially loss-making Star FM, were also awarded licences to operate two commercial radio stations. We hold absolutely no brief for the Trevor Ncube-owned Alpha Media Holdings that had also applied for licences to operate commercial radio stations. However, we are bamboozled by the decision by the BAZ to refuse to grant a licence to Alpha Media Holdings. Surely, something is fundamentally wrong somewhere, somehow."
The MDC-T claims that the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) is a statutory body that the Zanu-PF regime has packed with regime apologists and die-hard Zanu-PF functionaries such as one Tafataona Mahoso; the BAZ chairperson.
MDC-T says its is a shameful anachronism to have BAZ being chaired by the calibre of Mahoso.
"In the digital age that we are living in, it is a shameful anachronism to have the BAZ being chaired by someone of the calibre of Mahoso, a complete and unrepentant Zanu-PF sycophant who will do everything within his power to thwart and suppress freedom of expression and freedom of the media," said the MDC-T.
The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) recently announced that five companies with very strong links to the Zanu-PF regime have been awarded licences to operate commercial radio stations in eight selected urban centres.
The MDC said it takes note of the fact that both ZiFM and Star FM are strongly linked to the Zanu-PF regime.
"Infact, these two national radio stations are a de facto extention of the Zanu-PF propaganda machinery."
"It is, therefore, totally unacceptable to have AB Communications, a rather shady company with some links to the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), being awarded two licences to run commercial radio stations in Masvingo and Mutare. Similarly, Zimpapers, the owners of the perennially loss-making Star FM, were also awarded licences to operate two commercial radio stations. We hold absolutely no brief for the Trevor Ncube-owned Alpha Media Holdings that had also applied for licences to operate commercial radio stations. However, we are bamboozled by the decision by the BAZ to refuse to grant a licence to Alpha Media Holdings. Surely, something is fundamentally wrong somewhere, somehow."
Source - Byo24News
