President Robert Mugabe’s spokesperson, George Charamba, delivered a public lecture at Midlands State University last weekend at which he admitted the economy was shrinking.
Charamba, who is also a long-time Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, pointed out that the bad state of the economy was one of the reasons why government had not been enthusiastic about opening up the airwaves, despite continued calls by several players.
“Let me be very honest with you, although I know the consequences of being honest. The climate in Zimbabwe is one where people are thinking the state continues to restrict the airwaves. But remember, we do not allow foreign funding for radio stations wishing to operate in the country. So how do you then reconcile the need to liberalise (the airwaves) in circumstances where the economy itself is shrinking?” he said, adding that it would not make sense to license TV and radio stations when they will be doomed to collapse.
“Before they have even been born, they will be dead. You see,” said Charamba.
Despite mounting evidence that the government is broke, with payment of civil servant salaries being frequently postponed, President Robert Mugabe and his cronies have insisted that everything is fine. Former Finance Minister Tendai Biti is on record saying the nation is sliding back to the pre-2008 era when inflation skyrocketed to unprecedented levels while the ordinary person failed to put food on the table or meet basic needs.
Ministries and line departments are yet to be paid in full what they were promised by Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa when he unveiled the 2014 budget, while parliamentarians have not been paid their allowances.
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“So how do you then reconcile the need to liberalise (the airwaves) in circumstances where the economy itself is shrinking?†said George Charamba. “Before they have even been born, they will be dead. You see.â€
Whilst it is true that the national economy is shrinking still what a feeble excuse for denying the people freedom of expression, free press and freeing the country’s airwaves. Free the air waves and let the would-be players make the business decision whether to set shop or not.
People like George Chiramba have enjoyed absolute power for so long they really believe they are special, a cut above all others mortals and hence treat the rest of us as stupid idiots. No doubt he expected his audience to cheer and applaud him for being so considerate and keeping a tight lid on the country’s air waves after all no one would want to be burying failed independent radio and TV stations!