Zanu PF entrenches its hold on the airwaves
By Brown Moyo
HARARE – Zanu PF has entrenched its hold on the airwaves in Zimbabwe by handing over operating licences to five radio stations whose owners have links to the former liberation movement led by President Robert Mugabe.
The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) awarded five companies new commercial radio licences to broadcast in eight selected urban centres. In a statement BAZ said the winners had been selected based on the strength of their proposals.
Twelve companies had submitted applications to broadcast.
“This determination by the authority was guided by the proposal submitted by each applicant for a particular licence area, the outcome of the public inquiries and the guidance provided in terms of the objectives of the Broadcasting Services Act,” BAZ said.
Nehanda Radio looks into each of the five stations and exposes their links to Zanu PF:
AB COMMUNICATIONS
Its major shareholder is a Zanu PF cabinet minister and legislator, Supa Mandiwanzira. He is the current Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services. Mandiwanzira also owns a local radio station, ZiFM.
His company won two licenses (Gogogoi FM and Faya FM in Masvingo and Gweru respectively).
Kingstons
Trading Nyaminyami FM and KE100.4 FM in Kariba and Harare respectively. Kingstons is a 100% parastatal under the ministry of information.
Fairtalk Communications
Trading as Skyz Metro FM and Breeze FM in Bulawayo and Victoria Falls.
Owned by Qubani Moyo and Cont Mhlanga. Zanu PF sources also said Information minister Jonathan Moyo is also linked to Fairtalk communications and is a silent executive.
Moyo is a former MDC official who resigned and joined Zanu PF soon after the 2013 elections. He is a close friend to Jonathan Moyo.
Zimpapers
Trading as Diamond FM in Mutare and is part of the state media and runs another station Star FM.
Ray of Hope
Which is trading as YA FM in Zvishavane is owned by former ZBC chief executive officer Munyaradzi Hwengwere.
Hwengwere was once the Principal Secretary in the then Department of Information and Publicity in the President’s Office, second in command to current Permanent Secretary in the ministry George Charamba.
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition director MacDonald Lewanika said the nature government has awarded the licenses shows that it is not ready to free the airwaves.
“While we salute the introduction of new stations, the nature of players granted licences shows that the state is not willing to really free the airwaves but rather to expand its propaganda reach through radio vehicles which are predominantly owned and controlled by members of Zanu PF,” Lewanika said.
“One would have thought new licenses would also mean new players, but it seems instead of licensing the various community radio initiatives that have been clamouring for licences, BAZ is consolidating the hold of certain players like Zimpapers and AB Communications on the medium of the people in Zimbabwe.”
MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu said: ” The Zanu PF regime will never, ever allow a situation in which there is genuine freedom of expression and freedom of association in Zimbabwe. Like all fascist political parties, Zanu PF is morbidly fearful of the people. They don’t want the majority of the people to have access to alternative media.
“This is the main reason why the licences to operate eight (8) community radio stations were given to companies that are strongly linked to the establishment. Dictatorships are always very insecure,” Gutu said.
Looking at all the five stations and their links to Zanu PF, there is no doubt that the ruling party is entrenching its hold on the airwaves ahead of the 2018 elections.
