By Dumisani Ndlovu
Demand by the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA Zimbabwe) and opposition polilical parties finally yield results.
Last year MISA wrote a letter to the country’s only allowed television station, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) demanding fair and balanced coverage of all political parties in the upcoming elections.
Opposition legislators equally expressed concerns about what they called the biased coverage of State-controlled media, particularly the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), during general elections.
In a letter dated 21 January 2022, MISA Zimbabwe Director Tabani Moyo reminded ZBC of its obligations under the national constitution.
The Zimbabwe chapter of the Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA Zimbabwe) wrote to the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) asking the broadcaster to be neutral and grant equal access for political parties as directed by the High Court and recommended by election observer missions.
In a latest development, as a way of adhering to the heed calls, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) published the broadcasting schedule outlining how airtime will be allocated to different political parties during the upcoming general elections.
The schedule was published in The Herald of Friday, 28 July 2023, and subsequently emailed to those who had requested it.
On 17 July, MISA Zimbabwe again wrote to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) requesting the schedule. MISA Zimbabwe then wrote a follow-up letter on 23 July, after which a schedule was published in the local newspapers.
The schedule is essential to effectively monitor how public media discharges its duties and if this is in keeping with provisions of the Constitution. Section 61 (4) (c) of the Constitution states that all state-owned media of communication must afford fair opportunity for the presentation of divergent views and dissenting opinions.
In a press statement released, on August 1 2023, MISA-Zimbabwe appreciated the compliance by the public broadcaster.
“To that end, MISA Zimbabwe appreciates the publication of the ZBC schedule on the coverage of political parties contesting elections, “read the statement.
However, in the future, MISA Zimbabwe recommends that ZBC be proactive in providing this information and should do so as closely as possible to the election proclamation date and the sitting of the Nomination Court.
Furthermore, Section 160G of the Electoral Act adds that public broadcasters shall afford all political parties and independent candidates contesting an election such free access to their broadcasting services as may be prescribed.
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