(MISA/IFEX) – MISA is reporting that the Zimbabwean Minister of Information, Posts and Communications, Shen Shimutengwende, has instructed the entire board of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) to resign. The board, headed by Tafataona Mahosa, was appointed last year by the former Minister of Information for a three year term. In its 10 October 1998 […]
(MISA/IFEX) – MISA is reporting that the Zimbabwean Minister of Information,
Posts and Communications, Shen Shimutengwende, has instructed the entire
board of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) to resign. The board,
headed by Tafataona Mahosa, was appointed last year by the former Minister
of Information for a three year term. In its 10 October 1998 edition, the
“Herald” newspaper quoted Shimutengwende as saying that the resignation of
the board would be the first step towards the restructuring of the ZBC along
commercial lines. The paper said that in a letter to all board members, the
Minister had instructed them to hand in their resignations by no later than
15 November. The Minister indicated that the government would restructure
the board, with current board members being eligible for reappointment.
Latest reports from Zimbabwe, however, indicate that the board members will
resist the order to resign, while the Minister’s directive appears invalid.
The “Financial Gazette” reported on 15 October that most of the current ZBC
board members had decided to reject the order from the Minister. The paper
reports further that although the ZBC Act gives the Minister powers to fire
the board, the reasons advanced by the Minister are not valid.
The paper quotes unnamed sources as saying that the reason for the premature
termination of the board’s term is several differences which have arisen
between the board and the Minister over the past few months. One significant
clash between the two parties was the transfer in June and eventual
departure of ZBC’s marketing, administration and finance director, Onias
Gumbo, along with the former human resources director, Victor
Mhizha-Murira. The two were moved from positions at the ZBC’s headquarters
in Harare to positions considered to be junior, at the ZBC’s offices in
Bulawayo. The “Financial Gazette” cited unconfirmed reports saying that at
the time of his transfer, Gumbo was handling ZBC’s multi-million dollar
pay-television project in which some politicians had an interest. It’s
believed the board’s decision to transfer him did not go down well with
these politicians.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe chapter of MISA says the dispute surrounding the ZBC
board highlights the need for greater legal protection for the autonomy of
an envisaged independent broadcasting authority in the country. Acting
Director of MISA-Zimbabwe, Barney Mapondera, says the current board members
were not appointed because of their competency or commitment to press
freedom but because of their relationship with the ruling party. Civil
society never had an input during the appointment process, and at the
time of their appointment, the appointees knew full well what the Minister’s
powers were. Nevertheless, Mapondera adds, the dispute highlights the demand
put forward by MISA-Zimbabwe to effect changes to the Draft Communications
Bill to curtail the powers of the Minister and prevent the Minister from
unilaterally being able to dismiss members of the proposed independent
broadcasting authority.
The Draft Communication Bill is currently under discussion and is expected
to come before parliament before the end of the year.
