Charamba misleads committee

Charamba told the Parliamentary Committee on Media, Information and Communication Technology last week Thursday that the current levels of investment in broadcasting infrastructure in the country created no room for new entries as espoused by the Global Political Agreement.

“One can make as much noise as they want, but until and unless there is technical wherewithal then we are building a pie in the sky,” Charamba told the legislative committee.

But media analysts say this is patently false. Tabani Moyo, MISA Zimbabwe advocacy officer, said Charamba was peddling a myth aimed at ensuring that Zanu (PF) goes to the referendum and elections next year with an upper hand in terms of selling its “stale message” to the electorate through ZBC.

“According to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Zimbabwe has the capacity to register 56 district (community) radio stations; 31 commercial radio stations; three national television stations and two national commercial FM radio stations,” Moyo said.

“The ITU also points out that the numbers can easily double if the government applies during the migration period from analogue to digital broadcasting.”

Lying to Parliament constitutes a serious offence under the Immunities and Privileges laws. Charamba’s statement flies in the face of assertions by the Minister of Information and Publicity, Webster Shamu, urging the Broadcasting Authority of

Zimbabwe (BAZ) to expedite the issuance of licences to private broadcasters and create platforms for community radio stations to go on air.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC party said Charamba’s attempt to stop the entry of new players was a manifestation of dictatorship. MDC spokesman, Nelson Chamisa, said: “Charamba’s statements before the Media, Information and Communication Technology parliamentary portfolio committee are a reflection of his party’s dictatorial tendencies which the people of Zimbabwe will do away with in the next elections.”

Since the enactment of the Broadcasting Services Act (BSA) in 2001, no new players have been licensed to set up privately owned radio and television stations or community radio stations. ZBC, which by all intents and purposes now resembles a Soviet-era broadcaster, has retained its monopoly on local airwaves via its two channels and four radio stations, which broadcast in English as well as local languages.

The MDC said assertions by Charamba were signs of Zanu (PF)’s allergic reaction to reform.

“Media reforms are inevitable, they are by public demand,” Chamisa said. “Zanu (PF) wants to refuse these reforms and continue with its propaganda agenda on its failed policies and rampant corruption that is now in the public domain. By maintaining the status quo and denying the entry of private broadcasters,” Chamisa said.