HARARE- Media hangman, Tafataona Mahoso is heavily tipped to be the chief executive of the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC), a development which is expected to stonewall the activation of the commission as it is already being opposed by some of the commissioners. The main faction of the Movement for Democratic Change is expected to oppose Mahosos appointment, after he was involved in the closure of The Daily News and its sister publication, The Daily News On Sunday. Mahoso, was the executive chairman of the now defunct Media and Information Commission, MIC, also presided over the closure of The Tribune and The Weekly Times.
More than a month following the announcement of the ZZMC commissioners, there has been no movement towards freeing the media environment as they have not received any formal appointment and have not met since the announcement. Debate on the appointment of a chief executive officer was started by deputy minister for Media, Information and Publicity, Jameson Timba in an interview when he said: The only problem (for the ZMC) is that they do not have a chief executive officer to head the secretariat.
It is no upon the commission to come up with criteria for the employment of a CEO, advertise the position and choose the most suitable person. However, commissioners who spoke to The Zimbabwean on condition of anonymity said they preferred a situation whereby the ZMC would have administrative personnel while the board would be charged with coming up with policy decisions.
Creating the position of CEO will only prolong the process of getting the commission to work as political parties will start haggling over who should be appointed the CEO, said the commissioner. However, Zanu (PF) hardliners are spoiling for a fight calling for Mahoso to be appointed the CEO based on history to effectively muzzle the Press ahead of future elections in which Zanu (PF) is terrified of meeting more independent publications.
Among the commissioners appointed are chairman, Godfrey Majonga, a veteran broadcaster and head of Danhiko Project for people with disabilities which received the patronage of First Lady, Grace Mugabe and Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, Gideon Gono. Reserve Bank official, Millicent Mombeshora, former ambassador to China, Chris Mutsvangwa, Zimpapers board member, Lawton Hikwa, former Zimbabwe Union of Journalists, president Matthew Takaona and Miriam Madziwa- Sibanda are commissioners, together with former Daily News staffers, Chris Mhike and Nqobile Nyathi.
Post published in: News