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We're not broke, say Zim propagandists
Mail & Guardian Online
October 25, 2004

http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?cg=BreakingNews-Africa&ao=124337

Zimbabwe's state broadcaster has denied its news department, a key propaganda arm of the government, is unable to pay its journalists and faces bankruptcy, state radio reported on Monday.

Chris Chivinge -- head of Newsnet, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings news department -- dismissed as false independent newspaper reports saying that Newsnet is broke and relying on loans from the only one of its four state radio stations that makes a profit to meet its monthly salaries.

The sole state broadcaster has a television channel and four radio stations, with the biggest listenership and revenues from advertising held by Radio Zimbabwe, a service in the local Shona and Ndebele languages.

The troubled state broadcaster has acknowledged in recent months that it is facing financial problems. Although the government still owns the main stake, it partially privatised the formally wholly state-owned Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.

Zimbabwe has also appealed to Iran and other donor countries to replace the broadcaster's ageing equipment.

Broadcast staff have repeatedly complained that their salaries are paid late, sometimes by several weeks.

The radio said Chivinge on Monday also defended Newsnet's decision to send five journalists to cover a cultural gala in neighbouring Mozambique earlier this month.

The gala, at Chimoio, about 100km from Zimbabwe's eastern border, was held to honour Zimbabwean guerrillas who died at a rebel base there during the Zimbabwe bush war that led to independence in 1980.

Chivinge said the state broadcaster always strives to remind Zimbabweans of their nation's liberation struggle against colonial rule.

He said Newsnet's coverage of the Chimoio music and dance gala was "grossly inadequate". A lack of finances prevented Newsnet sending more than five journalists.

The Information Ministry, which controls the state broadcaster, has been accused of wasting Z$2,7-billion (about R2,92-million) on a series of recent cultural galas used for government propaganda.

After near five years of political and economic turmoil, Zimbabwe is facing its worst economic crisis since independence in 1980. -- Sapa-AP

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