HARARE - Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation ( ZBC) journalists have hit back at their Chief executive Happison Muchechetere for accusing them of taking bribes from politicians, saying it was an attempt by top management to cover their own looting and corruption which is nearly bringing the state broadcaster to its knees.
A member of the workers committee at the weekend said Muchechetere and his top managers were earning nearly US$20 000 per month, yet ordinary workers were getting as little as US$200 per month. He said the senior managers were also paying themselves monthly housing allowances of US$3 000, weekly entertainment allowances of US$1 500 and getting free 1 000 litres of fuel every month on top of several other benefits.
“How do you compare this looting and corruption by senior ZBC managers with the trumped up charges they are bringing against ordinary workers?” asked the workers committee member. A senior journalist at the corporation said the allegations of bribery levelled by the senior managers, were meant to scare journalists from reporting favourably on issues involving cabinet ministers and other politicians from the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and the resurgent ZAPU.