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Seven Senior Journalists Suspended from ZBC

                                                               Blessing Chapwati

The newly appointed Chief Executive Officer for the Zimbabwe Broadcast Corporation Happyson Muchechetere has suspended seven senior journalists who are being accused of sympathizing with the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.

Among the seven suspended are senior journalists and desk editors.

These include acting Television General Manager Robson Mhandu, News editor Patrice Makova, Desk editor for national languages Sibonginkosi Mlilo, Business correspondent Brian Paradza and senior journalists Monica Gavhera, Robert Tapfumaneyi and Garikai Chaunza.

The actual details of the suspension are yet to be known and Muchechetere could not be reached for comment.

The suspension comes hard on the heels of dismissal of the chief executive officer Henry Muradzikwa who was fired in the aftermath of the March 29 harmonized elections on reasons of failing to articulate national issues at the state broadcaster.

The government has sought to sniff out employees suspected to have aided the loss of President Mugabe to opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai in the harmonized election in which the opposition wrestled majority in parliament.

Sources within ZBC say the dismissal of Muradzikwa opened a leeway for purging journalists who were suspected to be sympathizers of the opposition hence the appointment of Muchechetere who is deemed to be politically correct in ZANU PF's perspective.

Muchechetere is a former freedom fighter and has worked in various state media institutions including ZBC, the New Inter-Africa News Agency and the newly formed shortwave radio station Voice of Zimbabwe based in the Midlands town of Gweru.

The shortwave radio station was formed to counter what the state deems propaganda being beamed into the country by anti-Zimbabwe stations bent on effecting regime change.

The President of the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists Mathew Takaona has described the suspension of the seven senior journalists as unfortunate and unfair labour practice.

"The dismissal is an unfair labour practice and we suspect that it is politically motivated. It is unfortunate that this is being implemented on professionals. The new management has over reacted.  It is irrational, illogical and the move will further cripple an already grounded station.

"We demand an immediate reinstatement without loss of benefits," Takaona said.

ZBC has lost its credibility as a state broadcaster and has been turned into a propaganda machinery to prop up the image of ZANU PF ahead of the 27 June Presidential run off poll.

The opposition has not been afforded any space to advertise or sell its manifesto to the nation in all state run papers and broadcast stations.