Online Reporter
Fidelis Munyoro, [email protected]
THE Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services has dismissed as fabricated a report in the Zimbabwe Independent alleging that US$52 million in licence fees had vanished from the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC).
The paper has since issued an apology.
On Friday, the ministry condemned the article as “replete with unfounded allegations, falsehoods and malicious insinuations,” describing it as a clumsy attempt to smear ZBC and malign President Mnangagwa.
The ministry said the claim of a US$52 million shortfall was “a gross exaggeration and a complete fabrication,” stressing that actual licence fee revenue was nowhere near the figure cited.
“There has been no Government audit nor forensic audit on this matter because no evidence of malpractice has ever been presented to warrant one,” the statement read. It added that ZBC’s internal auditors had raised no concerns, questioning which “phantom audit” the publication had relied upon.
The ministry also rejected suggestions that President Mnangagwa would punish ministers for raising governance issues, calling it a reckless distortion.
“To imply that the President would punish a minister for uncovering wrongdoing is not only a gross misrepresentation of His Excellency’s character, but a reckless attempt to create a false narrative of discord where none exists,” the statement said.
It noted that ministerial reassignments are the President’s constitutional prerogative, exercised in the national interest. The ministry criticised the Independent for disregarding journalistic ethics.
The paper had been instructed to direct inquiries through Permanent Secretary Nick Mangwana but ignored the directive.
“This direction was ignored because the intention was never to seek the truth, but to print a pre‑determined, vindictive story. Furthermore, the claim that the reporter attempted to engage ZBC CEO Mr Sugar Chagonda is a blatant lie. No such engagement took place,” the ministry said.
The timing and tone of the article also came under fire, with the ministry suggesting ulterior motives.
“It appears that this story was pushed into the public domain by individuals bitter about their own failed agendas, possibly acting through financial inducements and, as has been suggested, as cheap as a bottle of whisky,” the statement added.
The ministry expressed dismay that a publication claiming credibility could “stoop to such levels,” allowing itself to be used for “petty and sponsored character assassinations.”
The fallout forced the Independent to issue an unreserved apology to President Mnangagwa, the ministry and ZBC. Editor Faith Zaba admitted the story lacked verified evidence and contained insinuations that questioned the President’s integrity.
“We deeply regret that our article contained insinuations that may have been interpreted as questioning the integrity of His Excellency or suggesting impropriety in the exercise of his constitutional prerogatives,” she wrote.
She conceded that the US$52 million claim was baseless, acknowledging that no audit had revealed malpractice.
The ministry reiterated its commitment to transparency, confirming ZBC is scheduled for its regular audit in March 2026, with results to be tabled before Parliament.
“We will further ensure that the results of this audit are duly tabled before Parliament for scrutiny, in line with established legislative processes. The ministry expects nothing less than full compliance from ZBC, as there is nothing to hide and public trust must be upheld,” the statement said.
The ministry urged media houses to uphold factual and balanced reporting, warning against divisive and destabilising stories.
“We urge media houses to adhere to the principles of factual and balanced reporting and to desist from publishing stories that seek to divide the nation, undermine its institutions and destabilise State‑owned entities,” it stated.
The public, it added, should treat such allegations with contempt.
