Confusion over Shamus appointment of Broadcasting board

The Information Minister Webster Shamu last week named several media boards, packed with former military men and allies of Robert Mugabes ZANU PF party. While he is authorised to appoint board members to NewZiana, Transmedia, Kingstons and ZBH boards (Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings), the minister overstepped his mark by appointing new Zimpapers and BAZ boards.

The BAZ is supposed to spearhead the opening up of airwaves by licencing new broadcasters to rival the governments ZBH, presently the countrys sole radio and television broadcaster. But there are few analysts who believe this will be allowed to happen before the next elections. Since the creation of the BAZ in 2000 no independent broadcasters have been licenced.

Shamu was forced to withdraw the Zimpapers board after being advised he had no powers to do so because the government, like all other shareholders, can only recommend names for appointment to the board at the companys annual general meeting next March.

Shamu also conceded he was wrong to appoint a new BAZ. But he said the law requires him to recommend to Mugabe names of people for

appointment to the broadcasting authority. He also said he was not required to consult anyone else other than Mugabe.

Tsvangirai told journalists in Harare on Tuesday that the appointment of board members to the BAZ was the business of the three principals as stipulated in the GPA. Under the power-sharing agreement BAZ board members are supposed to be appointed only after full consultation between Mugabe his coalition partners.

The GPA signed by all parties to the inclusive government, calls for the countrys tough media laws to be changed and to allow private radio, television and daily newspapers to operate under a unity government.

But Shamu ignored this and went on to appoint a new board chaired by the former chairperson of the defunct Media and Information Commission (MIC), Tafataona Mahoso. This prompted widespread protests and condemnation because it is believed Mahoso would completely block the opening up of airwaves.

Mahoso is the wrong man for the BAZ job after his role at the MIC, where he became known as the media hangman after ordering the closure of four independent newspapers, including the Daily News, that were critical of Mugabe and ZANU PF.

MDC Senator Obert Gutu told us he was pessimistic that ZANU PF will agree to a complete overhaul of the BAZ board. He said any changes would probably be just cosmetic, taking into account ZANU PFs obsession of not wanting any meaningful reforms.

I will not celebrate yet on the proposed changes to the BAZ board. Those people in ZANU PF are not reformists because theyre so obsessed with power retention, Gutu said.

Former ZBC radio and television newscaster Senzo Mpofu said it was obvious ZANU PF were not comfortable with opening up the airwaves because of the vast influence of the electronic media.

Radio and TV are more owerful than any form of media because they cover almost the width and breath of the country. Most people are better of listening than reading and Mugabe knows the moment there is independent radio in Zimbabwe, his chances of winning an election will be minimal, Mpofu said.