via ZBC reaches tipping point | The Financial Gazette – Zimbabwe News 13 Feb 2014
THE Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) has reached tipping point after Treasury withdrew budgetary support at a time when the national broadcaster is in dire straits due to a number of factors that include mismanagement. This development comes as the Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services has instituted an audit at the parastatal to address the deepening crisis, which saw top managers getting obscene salaries, partially blamed for bringing ZBC to its knees.
Efforts are currently underway to convince government to take over the parastatal’s debts to ease the operational challenges. This could be followed by the restructuring of ZBC to shed some staff as part of cost-cutting measures meant to ensure the parastatal’s survival.
In a recent report, the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Media, Information and Broadcasting Services said it was concerned that Treasury had failed to fund ZBC in the 2014 National Budget, with lawmakers describing the situation at the public broadcaster as dire.
“It is disturbing to note that ZBC was not allocated any funds for its operations in 2014 yet it also needs to replace production equipment and its obsolete fleet meant for content production,” reads part of the report.
“Similarly, New Ziana is embarking on a downsizing exercise as a cost cutting measure. The retrenchment costs for both institutions are US$7,150,000 and were not catered for in the 2014 budget.”
ZBC’s management was the first to be fingered in the ongoing salary gate scandal. Its chief executive officer, Happison Muchechetere was exposed for earning over US$40 000 per month, while other staff members went for months without getting paid. Former ZBC board chairman, Cuthbert Dube, who is said to have authorised some of the obscene payments and benefits is also under fire for milking the Premier Service Medical Aid Society by drawing an obscene salary.
Information Minister, Jonathan Moyo and his deputy, Supa Mandiwanzira are in a no nonsense mood as they are demanding answers from the State broadcaster and have vowed that the law should take its course where crimes have been committed. Their public stand to demand accountability is in sharp contrast with other ministers who are apparently trying to cover up the dirt in parastatals that fall under their ministries.
Analysts claim that the silence and bid to sweep the dirt under the carpet points to the possibility that some ministers were complicit in the scandals. — Staff Reporter
COMMENTS
Any monies stolen must be returned by the culprits. THATS THE LAW. Their problems were self induced so let the thieves pay.
Profesor Moyo, thank you so much for exposing these abnormal salaries. Nw l believe in you chero makaoma musoro.
7 mil retrenchment costs. This sounds like another heist in the making. This is many times the annual turnover of ZBC. There is no way this can be justified. Outrageous. I do not pay my taxes for this sh1t.
nononsense jona and shupa? let me laugh. where did shupa get all that he has? a dangamvura high school drop out virtually owing the entire broadcasting industry coz he is married to grace’s sister?
ZANU PF must sponsor ZBC not us the taxpayers. We dont want to pay for their licences, and we dont want to subsidise their existance as they serve no purpose to the ordinary zimbabwean. They must take their begging bowl to thats shke-shake building.
Hows your road building company doing Supa???unfinished business there too!!!!
I suggest Jonathan should be given a chance to rule this country. He’s got what it takes, the energy, intellect and the tact.
Board of thieves! Greedy satanic devils!
ZBC should be closed, they are just a burdon on the country.
anyway no-one really watches it do they.
Better to rent out ZBC buildings and equipment to Private Broadcasters and get some cash into ZRB.
in fact why not get rent out PSMAS, Air Zim, GMB, and all other parastatles out to private persons at least we would have some manufacturing. But not to anyone related to GVT or a fat cat.
No production, no money. Raid Comrade Nuchechetere to retrieve some of the booty for auctioning or equitable distribution. While you are at it remind Charamba to speed up the Board fees refund.