A statement issued by Tsvangirai’s spokesman, Luke Tamborinyoka, said Shamu and Charamba were invited to the meeting “to explain the lack of comprehensive media reforms in the broadcasting and print media in line with the GPA and the agreement of the Principals.” Instead the two ‘abused’ the platform to “raise unnecessary technical arguments” meant to stall media reforms.
A story in the state owned Herald newspaper extensively quoted Charamba, who said his boss Shamu had told the leaders that the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe “was in compliance with the Act governing its operations contrary to misconceptions that it was not complying.” Charamba also claimed Shamu, as the Minister, was entitled to appoint the ZBC board. Something the MDC-T objects to.
Commenting on reforming the Mass Media Trust, Shamu is said to have advised the principals that “the creation of the Mass Media Trust board be accompanied by funding from Government to avoid what happened with the Zimbabwe Media Commission, which ended up being a burden on the ministry." Tsvangirai’s office however said these are just excuses meant to block reforms.
Tamborinyoka said: “The Principals and the negotiators of the respective parties have agreed to a new board for the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe, the ZBC and the Mass Media Trust in order to engender true and inclusive media reforms in line with the spirit of the GPA.” He also said there was no agreement to stop the setting up for the Mass Media Trust until the issue of its funding is settled, as claimed in The Herald.
Charamba also claimed Tsvangirai had attempted to ‘smuggle’ in discussion on the Diaspora vote, despite the issue being ‘thrown out by the negotiators.” Tamborinyoka again said this was not true. “The Principals have a right to discuss any issue they feel is in the national interest. It was agreed by the Principals that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission be tasked with producing a report on the issue of the Diaspora vote,” he said.
Tamborinyoka said every Zimbabwean had a right to vote and the story in the Herald “exhibits overt attempts to scuttle the Diaspora vote even before the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has produced the report as requested by the Principals.”
The meeting on Wednesday saw Tsvangirai, Mugabe and Mutambara receiving briefings from Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa, Finance Minister Tendai Biti and Media, Information and Publicity Minister Webster Shamu.
Post published in: News