HARARE - The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) has drawn up a list of 10 journalists and other staff members who are earmarked for dismissal following recent allegations by management that some of them were moonlighting for online publications.
Sources at ZBCs Pockets Hill said mostly vocal reporters and producers have been targeted, as top executives try to curb the leaking of information linking senior managers to corruption and looting.
We have been told to scrutinize the contracts of at least 10 staff members to find out if there are loopholes which can be used to fire them. Initially senior mangers instructed the human resources department to write letters inviting them for a disciplinary hearing, but the company lawyer and our head of department refused, saying the affected workers have no case to answer, said an official in the Finance, Administration and Human Resources department.
The Information Technology (IT) department headed by Rungano Zvobgo has also been told to monitor the electronic mail of all staff members in order to sniff out employees suspected for moonlighting, but this has not worked.
The official said journalists who cover MDC ministers in the inclusive government were also targeted for victimization, as they were being accused of giving positive coverage to unpatriots and enemies of Zanu (PF).
Flimsy allegations of corruption and taking bribes have been levelled against some of these journalists. If anyone is taking bribes, it is the senior managers because they are the ones with the power to approve all stories and programmes for broadcasting on radio and television, said a senior journalist at the state broadcaster.
When contacted for comment, ZBC spokesperson Sivukile Simango could neither confirm nor deny the allegations that some journalists were set for dismissal.
What I can say is that investigations are still going on. I am not sure when they will be through and I cannot tell you who is being investigated, he said.
Last week, ZBC Chief executive officer, Happison Muchechetere threatened to fire journalists who were moonlighting for online publications, newspapers and international radio stations and also warned that he had reason to believe there were reporters and producers who were receiving bribes from politicians and businessman in the form of cash or financing on homes and vehicles.
However, the journalists have hit back at Muchechetere saying top executives among them the CEO and his three general managers, Tazzen Mandizvidza, Brigadier Elliot Kasu and Allan Chiweshe were threatening workers in order to hide their dubious deals which have cost the corporation millions of dollars.
Post published in: News