admin
Harare Bureau
THE Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation board yesterday reversed with immediate effect the re-assignment of senior managers announced by its acting group chief executive Allan Chiweshe last Friday.
The re-deployments were expected to be effected starting yesterday.
ZBC board chairman Father Gibson Munyoro said in a statement that the reversal was prompted by the fact that his board was not informed of the re-assignments.
“The board has taken this decision because the announced re-assignment of the managers was done without prior consultation or the advice and approval of the board itself,” he said.
“Accordingly, any movements or changes to take place within the national broadcaster shall be presented to the board for consideration and strategic discernment before being announced and effected.”
Announcing the changes last week, Chiweshe said the national broadcaster had re-assigned senior managers as part of its ongoing restructuring exercise.
He said general manager news and current affairs Tazzen Mandizvidza had been appointed general manager productions and television services, while his former position remained vacant until the board finds a replacement.
Head of radio services Christopher Chivinge had been tasked to lead news and current affairs, while Josephine Zulu who held that position was moved to radio services.
ZBC corporate communications manager Gladman Bandama last week told the media that the re-assignments were a response to the challenges facing the corporation and the need to continue exploring ways and means to improve programming.
Bandama said the re-assignments targeted systems that needed improvement before completion of a government-ordered forensic audit being conducted by KPMG Chartered Accountants.
The firm was engaged by the Comptroller and Auditor General to carry out an audit at ZBC after government unearthed serious malpractices at the corporation.
It emerged that the suspended CEO Happison Muchechetere was earning a salary of $44,000, while other employees went for more than seven months without pay.
KPMG is expected to produce its report any time from now.
The findings of the audit are going to guide the new board on action to take to ensure that the public broadcaster regains its lost glory.
The government would also determine the action to take against ZBC management in cases where corruption and criminal abuse of office would have been unearthed.
Online Reporter