Charamba rings changes at ZBH

Charamba rings changes at ZBH

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By Staff Reporter

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe's spokesman George Charamba is leading a dramatic reshaping of the State media and reversing some unpopular decisions introduced by the former Information Minister Jonathan Moyo, New Zimbabwe.com was told last night.

Charamba, the permanent secretary in Moyo's former ministry is reported to be trying to streamline changes, beginning at the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings (ZBH) which has been struggling to pay staff.

The restructuing is expected to widen to the State newspapers -- mainly the Herald and Chronicle -- where Moyo still has a lot of supporters.

"Charamba summoned ZBH senior management to Harare on Tuesday where he announced plans to undo most of Moyo's ambitious but unprofitable experiments," a ZBH source said.

Moyo was fired from government after he filed nomination papers to stand as an independent candidate for Tsholotsho in parliamentary elections later next month.

Moyo's ambitious plans, which included relocating some radio stations from Harare and Bulawayo to smaller towns, have resulted in the ZBH making huge losses, with workers sometimes going unpaid for weeks.

Sources said Charamba told the meeting his plans to undo some of Moyo's
plans, including renaming some of the radio stations and abandoning Moyo's stillborn project of introducing the National Broadcasting Corporation -- a 24 hour television channel.

Although Charamba is clearly in charge of the Ministry of Information following Moyo's departure, political analysts see him as an unlikely replacement for the voluble workaholic, Moyo.

"Although Charamba is clearly in charge of the Ministry of Information following Moyo's departure, political analysts see him as an unlikely replacement"

The favourite to take over charge of the ministry is Webster Shamu, that is, if he wins the election.

Meanwhile, as the democratic space continues to shrink in Zimbabwe in the run-up to next month's crucial parliamentary election, the Voice of America's Studio Seven has introduced a morning show focusing on the forthcoming elections.

The morning show, which began early February, is co-hosted by Chris Gande, a former bureau chief of the Daily News in Bulawayo, and Nigerian journalist Chinedu Offor.

The breakfast show, which starts at 5:39 am Zimbabwe time, has fast gained popularity.

Studio Seven, which has been broadcasting for the past two years for one hour in Shona, Ndebele and English everyday including week ends, is one of the most popular alternatives to the state controlled Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holding.

The radio station is run by Zimbabwe's journalists who include Ray Choto, who was severely tortured by the army following a story he wrote about an alleged coup and Blessing Zulu formerly of the Independent.

Brenda Moyo, Praxedes Jeremiah, Carol Gombakomba, all former ZBC workers, Marvellous Nyahuye, Ndimiyake Mwakalyelye and Jonga Kandemiri are some of the broadcasters based in Washington DC.

On Tuesday, SW Radio Africa announced it was widening coverage by going on the Medium Wave with a morning news and current affairs programme.
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