A total of 111 workers have quit since January, with scores more said to be on their way out due to pathetic salaries, sources revealed.

Radio and TV presenters – the face of Mugabe’s propaganda machine – earn a pitiable $4 million a month (about £10 on the black market).

Among staff joining the exodus were key personnel such as engineers and technicians at a time when the ZBC needs their experience to handle antiquated equipment.

Sources said new equipment purchased from Iran constantly failed, and the broadcaster could not get technical assistance and spares from Iran.

"A number of government institutions, among them the ZBC, got equipment from Iran on a government to-government arrangement. Some parastatals have failed to service their debt with the Iranians, and the Iranians have said they will not service the equipment even for those parastatals like ZBC who are making efforts to
pay," said a source.

The devaluation of the Zimbabwe dollar in Supplementary Budget last week from 250 to 30 000 to the US dollar meant that the debt had ballooned proportionally, making it "impossible" for the ZBC to raise the local dollar component, let alone the foreign currency.

Morale, some workers said, is at its lowest ahead of a key presidential and parliamentary ballot which Mugabe is desperate to win.

A source revealed: "About 10 senior managers have left in the last four months, and more are holding onto their letters of resignation. People are going mainly to South Africa, Malawi, Namibia and Botswana, while others are going into private jobs locally. The level of skill at ZBC right now is around 20 percent of requirement.”

Among the senior employees who left ZBC recently are Admire Taderera, Noel Sibanda, Josephine Toro, Methuseli Moyo and Caroline Hungwe.

One of the broadcaster's most experienced engineers based at Montrose Studios is said to have resigned a day he was supposed to be promoted to head the section at head office, and has joined the United Nations.

A recent decision by the government to increase TV and radio licence fees, sources said, was an attempt to help the ZBC to raise money for salaries and to buy machinery and vehicles in time for next year's polls.

Sources said even with the resignations, ZBC was still "technically overstaffed" as unskilled workers stayed, while critical skills left. The broadcaster is believed to have more than 500 workers on its books, most of whom spend the day doing virtually nothing.

A recent government policy to slash commodity prices which triggered nationwide shortages hit the ZBC hard as retailers, the broadcaster’s most reliable advertisers, cancelled contracts because their shelves were empty.

Stability has eluded the ZBC over the years as a result of irrational restructuring exercises initiated by politicians and bureaucrats. Workers said what frustrated them most was that politicians and bureaucrats concentrated on fighting for influence over matters at ZBC, without addressing the welfare of staff.

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