HARARE - The state-controlled Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation is planning to flood the airwaves in a move aimed at blocking private players from entering the sector.In a confidential ZBC strategic document in our possession, the broadcaster moots plans to flood the airwaves before new players can come on board.
This has raised eyebrows among would-be broadcasters who now wonder who is going to be given the two new licenses advertised by the illegal Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe last week.
Since ZBC has the capacity to broadcast 12 TV channels and several radio stations, it could pre-empt other players from coming on board. Strategies include engaging churches to take up one of the channels, and getting the richly-funded Cricket Union or ZIFA to sponsor a channel, says the document.
Since independence, ZBC has been used by Zanu (PF) to propagate its propaganda. Lately it has been used to denounce the partys decade-long political opponent MDC without giving the latter its right to respond.
The coming in of the inclusive government and the GPA, which provides for the democratization of the media, has been a big blow to the partys fundamental strategy of disinformation.
Post published in: News