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Prime-time Daily Monitoring Report No.21
Media Monitoring Project Zimbabwe (MMPZ)
April 08, 2008

This report monitors the political content of ZBC's radio and television programming especially issues relating to the March 29 elections, during prime-time listening and viewing. (It does not include the content of the main news bulletins, which form the basis of separate research). All stations (Zimbabwe Television, Spot FM and Radio Zimbabwe) are monitored from 0700hrs-1000hrs, 12 noon-1400hrs and 1700hrs-2300hrs.

Summary

Even as the country grapples with its deepening post-election crisis sparked by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission's inordinate delay in announcing the winner of the March 29 presidential poll, ZBC failed to remotely, acknowledge the existence of such a problem in its programmes. It only aired songs marking the country's independence from colonial rule, commemorated annually on April 18th.

Current Affairs programmes

None (all stations)

Politically influenced music

Spot FM played songs commemorating Zimbabwe's attainment of independence on April 18th. Among the tracks played included Simon Chimbetu's Ndarangarira Gamba (remembering the heroes) and Lovemore Majaivana's Sayiwela (we have crossed) all of which pay tribute to heroes of the liberation struggle.

Noble as the idea is however, ZANU PF has privatised the liberation struggle while portraying opposition parties, such as the MDC, as conspirators working to reverse the gains of independence. Against this background, the songs unfairly work in ZANU PF's favour, especially in light of the heavily disputed March 29 presidential poll, which MDC's Morgan Tsvangirai is believed to have won.

Political advertising

None (all stations)

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