INFORMATION, Media and Broadcasting Services minister Jonathan Moyo last night fired the entire Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) board and immediately sent its chief executive officer Happison Muchechetere on forced but indefinite paid leave. Njabulo Ncube Deputy Editor
Allan Chiweshe has been appointed acting chief executive officer. Chiweshe has been with the ZBC since 1985 and was the current general manager. In a statement to Southern Eye last night, Moyo said ZBC had been operating like a rudderless ship and had failed to provide a turnaround strategy within stipulated time, adding that it was a clear sign of dilatory management by both the board and management of the State broadcaster.
Zifa chairman Cuthbert Dube led the former board which was sacked amid reports workers had gone for several months without salaries while the top brass lived luxurious lives, driving latest vehicle models in addition to what are considered obscene salaries.
Some executive were thought to be earning as much as $20 000 a month.
“It is common cause that the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation has for some considerable time been facing 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 Zimbabwe,” read part of Moyo’s statement.
“Against this background the Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting services has over the last few weeks been engaging the ZBC board and management to find an urgent and lasting solution to the very public challenges facing the national broadcaster. In particular, the ministry engaged the ZBC board and management for most of Monday October 28 2013 to review a turnaround strategy which the corporation had submitted to the government.
“It transpired during the meeting that the turnaround strategy, about which the ministry had strong reservations, had not been considered or endorsed by the full ZBC board prior to its submission to the ministry. Consequently, the ZBC board requested 10 to 14 days to agree to submit a turnaround strategy considered and endorsed by the full board. Some 17 days have lapsed since that commitment.
“After making enquiries related to the matter this morning (yesterday) the ministry received a letter from the ZBC board chairperson this afternoon essentially confirming that the board and management are not yet ready to proceed with the overdue turnaround strategy.”
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Moyo said in the circumstances and upon appropriate consultations, the ZBC Board “is hereby dissolved with immediate effect”.
“In the same vein 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 organisational audit of ZBC. This will facilitate the crafting and implementation of long delayed turnaround strategy which the national broadcaster deserves and must now have in the national interest.”
