via Minister Moyo Fires ZBC Boss, Board for Incompetence by Ntungamili Nkomo 14.11.2013 VOA Zimbabwe
Information Minister Jonathan Moyo on Thursday moved in to reverse the decay at the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) by dissolving the state broadcaster’s board and placing its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Happison Muchechetere on forced leave.
ZBC General Manager for Radio Services, Allan Chiweshe, was immediately installed as Acting CEO.
Minister Moyo, whose frustrations with the broadcaster’s management for incompetence is a matter of public record, said he was forced to wield the hatchet in the “national interest” after the board failed to produce a turnaround strategy for the institution.
“In the circumstances, and upon appropriate consultations, the ZBC Board is hereby dissolved with immediate effect,” Moyo said in a statement.
“In the same vein and with immediate effect, the ZBC Chief Executive Officer Happison Muchechetere is hereby sent on leave with full pay until further notice. “This decision has been taken in order to enable a full due diligence and organizational audit of ZBC,” the Minister added.
The removal of Muchechetere and his board, Moyo said, would “facilitate the crafting and implementation of the long-delayed turnaround strategy which the national broadcaster deserves and must now have in the national interest.”
Minister Moyo’s move is sure to inspire hope among hundreds of miserable ZBC staffers who have had to endure months of nonpayment while their bosses were said to be rewarding themselves with hefty incomes – despite the fact that the public broadcaster was virtually broke.
An unnamed state broadcaster employee broke down the salary discrepancies to The Zimbabwe Independent recently as follows: “The least paid manager nets around US$7,000, while general managers get about US$18,000, heads of department around US$14,000 and the highest paid manager more than $20,000. The rest of the employees (reporters and supporting staff) get below US$1,000.”
The dissolved board comprised of Chairperson Cuthbert Dube, his deputy Doreen Sibanda and members Gibson Mashingaidze, Bob Nyabinde, Farai Mutamangira, Job Jonhera, Benjamin Mabenge, Felix Muchemwa, Trevor Manhanga, Clemence Mabaso and one, M. Manuhwa.
Moyo noted that ZBC had for sometime faced “critical leadership and managerial challenges that have not only compromised the national broadcaster’s capacity to effectively and meaningfully discharge its broadcasting mandate but which have also negatively affected the welfare interests of ZBC employees.”
COMMENTS
If the salaries breakdown above is true, the i expect the minister to come up with recovery measures of the stolen moneys. This is robery
WELL DONE PROF DEBELE
Pity that while wielding his ax he didnt take his own stupid pip off!!
Bthathe Moyo mfanakithi! Kunini bedelela!
Men are beasts and even beasts don’t behave as they do.All outward forms of religion are almost useless, and are the causes of endless strife. Believe there is a great power silently working all things for good, behave yourself and never mind the rest.There seems to be a terrible misunderstanding on the part of a great many people to the effect that when you cease to believe you may cease to behave.
Ko bambo ava vanozviti pastor vanoda kuti chiikovo? Nyorai zvinonzwika changamire. Hapana chamanyora apa
Are you sure this is done to turn around ZBC prof. This is bookish. How does any broadcaster make revenue Prof? Do you think revenue comes from Muchechetere, forget and smile. Revenue comes from adverts Prof. Many people no no longer watch ZBC whether it taste bad or good to hear. Thus, for someone who watches no ZBC, logically, he would not place an advert on ZBC, instead he looks for alternative. 100% local content, people already know the Zim stuff so they dont see it as worthy. Companies, have closed down, and there is no need to place adverts. Zanu Pf, it is a bad debtor, for all the election adverts aired, nothing was paid. Refusal to accept adverts of opposition part, kuramba mari iri kuuya yega nekutya ku looser ma election.
Whether you turn or ten it around, for as long as these basics are not addressed, it will not make profit……unless you force econet, barclays and standard to place adverts or they will be indeginized
OBSCENE SALARIES FOR MANAGEMENT! ALL PARAS ARE LIKE THAT! THE “ENGLISH” ARE IN CHARGE!
Fire them all ZBC is rubbish and run by camera men with knowledge of the broadcasting industry.
The zbc should be self fund by generating revenue through advertising and sponsorship opportunities.
No one whats to advertise or sponsor those cheap bad quality produced programmes.
Zbc was an icon of Africa if Moyo is true
They are alot of experienced Zimbabweans working for sabc who can turn that rubbish broadcaster into something with DTT on its way this is a great opportunity to make the right changes and appointments.