Zimbabwe issues six new TV licences
What you need to know:
Six independent television channels are expected to get broadcasting licenses by the end of this year as part of the Zimbabwean government’s effort to open up airwaves and implement media reforms.
Zimbabwe on Friday issued six new free-to-air television licenses to companies linked to the state, including a firm owned by the military, following calls for licensing of independent broadcasters.
The southern African country has had only one television station since independence from Britain in 1980, which is owned by the government.
Zimbabweans accuse the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation of biased coverage in favour of the ruling Zanu PF.
Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) chairperson Charles Sibanda told journalists in Harare that one of the companies that had been given a licence was Rusununguko Media Pvt Ltd, which is owned by the military.
State owned Zimbabwe Newspapers (Zimpapers), which runs the country’s biggest newspapers and commercial radio stations, was also awarded a licence.
The Media Institute of Southern Africa’s Zimbabwe chapter (Misa Zimbabwe) said it was worried that the licensing did not show any diversity.
“While the decision to license more television stations is a welcome development, Misa Zimbabwe is worried at the lack of diversity in the granting of the TV licences,” said Misa Zimbabwe, an organisation that lobbies for freedom of expression.
“The new TV licence holders either already hold print or broadcasting licences or are linked to the government or the governing party,” it added.
“With this scenario, the country risks having a homogeneity of news and views, an anathema to democracy.
“If Zimbabwe is to have a truly diverse media, there is a need for more players from different backgrounds to be granted licences.”
Zimbabwe is in the process of licensing community radios, but critics fear that the process would not be transparent.
“Misa Zimbabwe notes that the BAZ will soon start the process of licensing community radio stations and is worried that if this trend continues, only players with links to the government will be granted licences, yet again,” Misa Zimbabwe added.
“Misa Zimbabwe, therefore, calls for the genuine liberalisation of the airwaves, where diversity and pluralism are the guiding principles in the granting of licences.”
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who toppled long time ruler Robert Mugabe in a 2017 military coup, is accused of going back on his promises to roll back tough media control laws.
The 77 year-old leader is also accused of closing down the democratic space by clamping down on critics that include journalists.
__________________________________________________________
By KITSEPILE NYATHI
