ANGRY television viewers on Thursday condemned the bungling at the nation's only television station - ZTV - which led to the disappearance from the screens of the popular soapie
Amakorokoza.
Amakhosi Theatre Productions, producers of Amakorokoza, is battling to recover money amounting to about $200million it is owed by ZTV and has stopped supplying the station with the programme.
Meanwhile, some actors face an uncertain future after they left their jobs to join the soap full-time.
"We are disappointed. Amakorokoza was stopped so suddenly and this is not the first time they have done it to a production from Bulawayo," Amakorokoza fan, Ndaba Nkomo, said. He was referring to the drama series Kukhula Kokhuphela which he said was taken off the airwaves without notice.
"What boggles the mind is that productions from other regions are allowed to run their full length without disruption."
Amakorokoza has not been screened for the past three weeks. For two weeks running ZTV ran repeats of the soap and on Tuesday this week the station slotted in the business discussion programme, Talking Business with Supa in Amakorokoza's place.
No explanation was given for the development.
Feluna Nleya, of Marlborough, Harare, said: "Ndakarwadziwa chaizvo nezveAmakorokoza (I was so pained by what happened to Amakorokoza). It addressed many issues such as gold panning, foreign currency deals and corruption and many of us identified with it. Those people at ZTV must put things in order and bring back the soap."
Josephine Moyo who described herself as "a regular Amakorokoza viewer," said: "We want Amakorokoza back. I really missed it. It was one of the programmes worth seeing on ZTV."
Amakorokoza Executive Producer Cont Mhlanga told Standard Plus: "We don't even know how to explain to the viewers who want to know what's happening because we are stuck with ZTV owing us for episodes aired since November last year. Some viewers are even calling us amakorokoza (gold panners) who just dig around looking for a quick fortune."
He would not reveal the full amount ZTV owes his company.
"It's a sad development considering all the effort we put in," Mhlanga said.
He said since last year ZTV has been giving excuses for failing to pay while Amakhosi dug to the bottom of its coffers to produce the soap.
He said crew and cast members went for last year's Christmas holidays without any money.
Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holding's Public Relations Executive Loveness Chikozho could not be reached for comment on her mobile phone.
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