The station is monotonous and boring, good only for churning out Zanu PF propaganda and broadcasting jingles hero-worshipping President Robert Mugabe.
Zimbabweans thought BAZ would introduce changes that would enable new players to air television and radio programmes worth watching and listening to. Ironically, that was not to be; even as Zimbabwe joined the rest of the world in commemorating World Radio Day, set aside to recognise the importance that radio plays in society.
The commemoration came at a time BAZ had sidelined private players that had applied for licences opting for the state-owned Zimpapers group to have a stake in the airwaves in addition to its dominance of the print media.
Such a move can only benefit the ruling elite led by President Mugabe and his Zanu PF party who have used radio as a propaganda tool to spread hate-speech discrediting opponents.
The fact that BAZ turned down five new applicants left the country far away from achieving the goal of media freedom. The credibility of BAZ was put under scrutiny during a public meeting that was attended by various political commentators. Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s office, Jameson Timba, labelled BAZ as illegal although his Zanu PF counterpart Bright Matonga dismissed the accusations claiming BAZ was acting above board.
The stringent requirements of the BAZ Act are also discouraging to other players. For example; the Act prohibits a holder of a broadcasting licence from applying for a signal carrier licence. This means all broadcasters have to rely on the state-owned Transmedia for their signal.
Minister Shamu seems to be missing the point that the country’s airwaves are still controlled by the state apparatus, thus violating Article 19 of the Global Political Agreement which obliges the opening of the airwaves to new players.
The Minister also fails to realise that thousands of media graduates are roaming the streets after failing to secure employment in this small industry.It is time our politicians put on a human face and view freeing the airwaves as one remedy for unemployment. The government hoodwinked the nation by commemorating World Broadcasting Day when there is nothing much that has been done to liberate the airwaves.
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Terry Mutsvanga
