UNDP releases funds for media ads

Spokesperson Jessie Fungai Majome said the money was supposed to have been disbursed prior to the outreach programme, but COPAC was happy that it had finally managed to place radio adverts. The adverts started rocking the airwaves at the weekend.

Majome said the committee decided to start with radio adverts because of their power to reach out large numbers of people, including those in rural areas who can not access the print media.

We wanted the adverts to come out well before the commencement of the outreach programme but because of logistical challenges this didnt happen

We our aim was to reach out to the rural areas where most people remain starved with information, whereas their urban counterparts are relatively better informed because of economic advantage, she said.

ZBC has been refusing to flight COPAC adverts demanding cash up front before they are aired, despite the constitution-making process being a national program which ZBC as a public broadcaster should be supporting.

The state controlled broadcaster continues to air Zanu (PF) propaganda jingles every hour at its four radios and two television channels, despite widespread criticism from listeners and pro-democracy activists.

Two months ago ZBC withdrew a COPAC radio programme after one of its presenters had invited an MDC official who criticized Zanus favoured Kariba Draft.

Majome said the government should open up the airwaves and give Zimbabweans freedom of expression and association by allowing them to choose which radio station to tune into. She said the committee would flight adverts in the print media in the near future.

She also revealed that UNDP has refused to settle over US$200 000 which COPAC owes the media from its initial adverts, adding that the donors had said the government should settle this.

The UNDP is the major donor to the constitution-making process and has refused to hand over the funds needed by COPAC for logistics for fear of possible misappropriation.