Zimbabwe State media refutes claims of biased coverage in campaigns

The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation has refused yesterday’s claims by Citizens Coalition for Change interim spokesperson Fadzai Mahere that it is not according airtime to opposition parties.

According to Mahere, the little coverage that her opposition party is accorded is biased, derogatory and manipulated in contravention of the Constitution and Electoral Law.

“It is a matter of public record that ZBC refuses to give any independent or fair coverage to the CCC, our Presidential Candidate, Nelson Chamisa, our star rallies, our cluster rallies, our rural penetration drive, our campaign messages or any of our wide-ranging political activities.

Not only is the State media’s coverage unequal, but whatever token coverage is accorded to the opposition is biased, derogatory and manipulated in contravention of the Constitution and Electoral Law.

Additionally, the Electoral Law including sections 160G and 160J of the Electoral Act require State media to be fair and grant balanced allocation of time and prominence.

The CCC is legally entitled to equitable treatment including a reasonable opportunity to present our case. It is a matter of public record that the State media in general and ZBC in particular, have failed to comply with the law,” said Mahere.

However, ZBC said it was not true that it was not according airtime to opposition parties and cited that every Presidential candidate was entitled to equal airtime.

ZBC also said it had availed three election programmes for political parties namely, The Candidate, The Manifesto and Constituency Indaba.

“Guided by the laws, ZBC news reporters across the country have put in deliberate efforts to speak to all contesting candidates. Some have agreed while others have refused.

The CCC official launch rally in Gweru on the 16 of July was also covered and flighted by ZBC on the same day with the party president Nelson Chamisa being featured. The following day 17 July, Chamisa was also featured speaking about the land reform, a story aired on all ZBC news bulletins.

It is also important to note that the ZBC is independent and has a competent editorial team that understands what to publish and how to publish it.

“While it is understood that elections are an emotive subject and that the campaign is hot and might cause frustrations, it is however unfair to vent these frustrations on the ZBC,” read a statement from ZBC.