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A STORM is brewing between the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) and their studio panel for the 2010 Fifa World Cup following failure to pay them two months after the global football jamboree.
The country’s sole broadcaster had a panel of over 15 people including anchors and analysts. The panel was made up of John Phiri, Wellington Mpandare, Charlie Jones, Bheki Nyoni and Tawanda Marime, Hope Chizuzu and Philimon Mhlanga.
Veteran broadcasters Admire Taderera, Charles Mabika, Lovemore Banda, Mike Madhodha, Barry Manandi, Ian Zvoma, Howard Musonza were the anchors.
Free State Stars defender James Matola also made one appearance on the set during the Netherlands and Japan group stage match.
One of the panellists told Standardsport they were yet to receive their allowances referred in broadcasting as “author and artists” (AA).
The panelists were each promised US$70 for each sitting, during the football jamboree that ran from June 11 to July 11 in South Africa. The panellists stood to rake an average US$700 each.
“Before the World Cup we entered a verbal agreement with Wellington Nyoni ( SportNet executive producer) and they said they were going give us $70 on each sitting,” the panellist said on condition of anonymity.
“Since the World Cup ended we have been waiting patiently, but nothing has materialised and we keep on getting empty promises from ZBC.
“We gave them some breathing space at the end of July thinking that they were still sorting out their books.
“Now it is the end of August they have not said anything. When you phone them they will just tell you we are sorting it out.”
Asked why they entered into verbal contracts with the corporation the panellist said they have “mutual relations” with the country’s sole broadcaster.
“Over the years we have been offering our services for free, but this year ZBC’s coverage of the World Cup was being sponsored by Econet,” he said.
A source at Pockets Hill said the station received a substantial amount from Econet the country’s biggest cellular services provider. The live broadcast was branded with Econet flagship Buddie. The company also flighted advertisements. The panellists also donned branded shirts.
“ZBC got their money from sponsors a long time ago and we are now wondering why they are taking so long to pay us.
“We were using our own resources and fuel going to Pockets Hill thinking that we would recover that money once they pay us.”
ZBC spokesman Sivukile Simango was livid when contacted yesterday asking why the panellists had approached the media without exhausting all channels within the corporation.
“The Standard or the Zimbabwe Independent is not going to pay them anything; only ZBC is going to pay them,” Simango said.
“Complaining to newspapers will not do them any good they know where to go.
“My comment is that those people who came to you must know where to go if they have a problem with ZBC.
“ZBC has got management for television and radio services, it also has the chief executive officer. They can go to any of these people rather than to go to newspapers.”
BY NIGEL MATONGORERE
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