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VOP FM makes bid for radio license
MISA-Zimbabwe
October 28, 2011
The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe on 27 October 2011 convened
its last scheduled public hearings for prospective free-to-air radio
licensees with VOP FM appearing before the Authority. The Broadcasting
Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) sitting as a commission of inquiry was
chaired by Dr Tafataona Mahoso.
The BAZ panel
which was constituted in terms of the Commissions of Inquiry Act
and the Broadcasting
Services Act section 10 (8) comprised commissioners: Dr Tafataona
Mahoso, Chief Gambiza, Colonel Reuben Mqwayi, Mrs Erica Mususa,
Dr Vimbai Chivaura, Charity Moyo, Edward Dube, Dr Kurasha and Eng.
Muganyura.
The presentation
bid for VOP FM was made by its chairperson David Masunda and Chief
Executive Officer John Masuku. The presentation gave a detailed
account of the station's historical background, shareholding
structure, studio facilities, transmission plan, business plan,
roll-out plan, vision, and mission statement.
Amongst the
contentious questions raised by commissioners Mahoso and Moyo was
on the identity of the shareholders and the practicality of the
projected profit turnovers within the first year of going on air.
However, VOP
FM maintained that according to its cash flow projections, this
was achievable. The other issue was whether Radio
VOP (Communications), which is listed among the shareholders
would continue broadcasting should VOP FM be granted a licence.
Masunda said the former would immediately cease broadcasting should
VOP FM be granted a licence since it had donated all its studio
equipment to the latter.
Commissioner
Dube also questioned the definition of sponsored programmes and
whether this meant they would come in the form of donations. However,
Masuku noted that VOP FM was purely a commercial venture and would
not bank on any donations.
In an inordinately
lengthy interrogation by the commission that lasted more than an
hour, VOP FM also disclosed that it will have its own news crew
when it commences operations so that it is in a position to generate
its own news.
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