adminBroadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe.
The licences were granted to Zimpapers’ Talk Radio and AB Communications owned by businessman Mr Supa Mandiwanzira.
Mbizo legislator Mr Settlement Chikwinya (MDC-T) moved the motion calling for the immediate withdrawal of the licences.
He argued that the current BAZ board was not properly constituted, alleging that all board members were aligned to Zanu-PF and pushing its agenda.
“This motion seeks to address the irregular issuance of broadcasting licences by a board that is illegal because it was not appointed in consultation with the Standing Rules and Orders Committee as provided for by the Broadcasting Services Act as amended in 2007,” he said.
“It is also irregular that AB Communications managing director Susan Makore also sits on BAZ board, it therefore shows us that there is conflict of interest.
“She only recused herself from announcing the winners but was heavily involved in the process.”
However, Mberengwa East MP Cde Makhosini Hlongwane dismissed Mr Chikwinya’s claims saying they were unfounded.
“The issue of Susan Makore is not true because she together with a Brigadier General whose wife sits on the Zimpapers board recused themselves from the whole process and that is the best international practice of good corporate governance.
“The companies that applied for the licences went through a public, rigorous and thorough interview and for us as Parliament to deal with the issue at the end is wrong.”
He added: “Honourable Chikwinya should have moved the motion before the interviews were conducted and we can’t dedicate time to discuss personalities he (Mr Chikwinya) hates.”
Cde Hlongwane said the Parliament’s Standing Rules and Orders Committee had approved the appointment of the board members.
However, Speaker Mr Lovemore Moyo (MDC-T) who chairs the SROC said the SROC had nothing to do with the appointment of the BAZ board.
MDC representative for Insiza, Mr Siyabonga Ncube said some MPs were confused that Media, Information and Publicity Minister Webster Shamu had erred in appointing the board.
He said Minister Shamu had a constitutional mandate to appoint the BAZ board while the Zimbabwe Media Commission was the one to be approved by the SROC.
Former Media, Information and Publicity Deputy Minister Cde Bright Matonga said Zimpapers’ Talk Radio and AB Communications were commercial entities that want to operate viably.
“Those companies will be very professional and commercial . . . they wouldn’t want to follow propaganda of a particular party.
“Instead of discussing the issuance of licences, the issue should be on content and I want to urge those companies that have been given licences to be professional,” the Mhondoro Ngezi legislator said.
He said Zimbabwe was not the only country in the world where State- owned entities owned several media concerns.
Highfield West MP, Mr Simon Hove (MDC-T) said BAZ should have conducted a survey to ask people what they wanted.
He said Zimbabweans wanted divergent views, adding that the licences issued to the two companies should be revoked.
The motion was adjourned to today.
Zimpapers and AB were among 14 applicants.
Online Reporter