Harare, November 20, 2009 – Presidential spokesman and the permanent
secretary in the Ministry of Media Information and Publicity, George
Charamba wields so much power at the only state broadcaster, the Zimbabwe
Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), which has seen not only journalists, but
editors as well as board members being afraid of him, a report by the Open
Society Institute Southern Africa (OSISA) says.
The report said journalists had complained about great interference by
officials from President Robert Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party, which had greatly
affected professionalism resulting in the state broadcaster providing biased
news. Most journalists felt that broadcaster was being used as a “personal
empire” by those at the ministry especially, George Charamba.
“Charamba wields enormous power here, is untouchable, and staff at the
broadcaster, including ZBC board is terrified of him” said one journalist in
the report.
“One journalist who refused to be named said that Charamba was running
the corporation like his personal fiefdom and this was demoralising staff as
they felt that the core business of the broadcaster was no longer taking
precedence. “All this has made journalists believe that whatever they do
they have to be answerable to the government or individuals in the ministry
rather than the general public.”
The report on how to turn the ZBC into a truly public broadcaster, was
released and officially launched by the Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai in
Harare. Tsvangirai’s MDC party has said it wants Charamba fired.
“Politicians often give instructions to managerial staff on their
editorial preferences. It is also alleged that the divisions and
factionalism within the party play out in the newsrooms,” said the report.
Radio VOP
But on this very site I am sure I have read that Charamba’s powers have been clipped, or maybe it was the overzelous cheerleaders.This story seems to contradict this. As far as I know, Charamba has more power than Tsvangirai because he has been given uncontrolled powers by Matibhili so he is like Matibhili himself.
Just like Comi Ali was powerful in Iraq. Every dictator has a “powerful” cheerleader behing him so what. Abel you havent stayed in any country with dictators. Its your first experience thats why you seem to be very surprised by those reading the demise of the mighty ZANU(PF). Its because people like myself have seen it all. We know when a dictatorship is still powerful and we know when its coming to an end. Nothing happening in Zimbabwe is new. Its just more of the same. I was in Kenya during Daniel Arap Moi’s time. Let me tell you that what we see in Zimbabwe is child play as compared to what was happening in Kenya then. What Chombo is doing to Municipalities is child play. But these things come and go Abel. Moi was a God on his own but where is he now? Talk of Kamuzu Banda, talk of Mobutu Sese Seko, talk of Idi Amini. These men were doing ten times worse than Matibili Abel. Matibili’s problems is that he wants to pretend to play nice guy. For example, he gets very worried about doing something “illegal”. That way he messes up and even his bad boys like Charamba are sometimes caught in the crossfire. Jonathan Moyo was caught in the cross fire and left licking his pride. So, Charamba only knows that he was given toy power. When Zuma complaigned in Maputo, Mugabe should have protected his press secretary who has been with him all along benefiting from the spoils, of cause catching the disease on the way but Mugabe betrayed Charamba. He told him to keep to himself. Thats reality not fake. I for one told you this Abel on this site. Now check the Herald and Sunday Mail these days and see whether they are the same as before Maputo. Of cause you get one letter to the Editor here and there but Charamba’s hand is invissible. He is sulcking and angry. And he was told to shut up.
Charamba is the most brilliant civil servant this country has ever seen. We should make him President. He makes a better PM than morgiza
Well said Shephered. Just like comical Ali. They talk when they have already dug their holes so they can hide when the goin gets tough.
Hope their cheerleaders here will be around when that happens.
IN ANY CASE HOW DOES HAVING TOO MUCH POWER AT ZBC MAKE HIM MORE POWERFUL THAT THE PRIME MINISTER???
HOW MANY ZIMBABWEANS IN ZIMBABWE WATCH ZBC????
Are you disputing that Charamba has more power than Tsvangirai? We will spend another decade watching the ‘demise’ of Zanu pf
@ Abel depends on what you call power.
you maybe right in your belief. and I in mine.
You guys confuse popularity and power. Morgan maybe popular but on the ground and corridors of power that means ziltch.
@ Abel
I’ve missed our chats. Sorry to have been absent..other issues.
Abel you have a Bi-Polar disorder. You confess to hating the MDC…not supporting Zanu-Pf yet your every comment displays a hatred of every democratic principle that the tri-party GPA professes to support.
Just what is your political aim..is it the status Quo…Is it a new political map..?
You have never said what it is you wish..You say Mugabe is corrupt. You say Tsvangirai is weak…but you don’t say what is your ideal.
I find your comments pathetic.
.You hide behind your rhetoric and pretend to offer solutions or condemn others for showing hope. You need serious medical intervention my friend.
Mr Realist, maybe it is you who needs medical attention. You seem to think a person must choose a side and stick to that party no matter what.
What I want is a reformed Zanu pf because I do not like the individuals in the party yet they have good policies. They seem to have a problem following their own policies. Thats why I would want individuals there who can follow through on the policies. As for MDC-T, well I am not in the habit of commenting on trojan horses of the west.
If you were not on leave from the forum I am sure you would have picked up on what I stand for, but hey to you guys anyone who does not support your trojan horse is pathetic,right?
Long live Zanu pf
No Abel…you are an anachronism…you seem to think that the “West” wants to take over Zim.
The “West” has Pumped Billions of Dollars into Zim. It has saved Thousands of Lives. But it has made no move to influence the outcome of the political talks currently under-way. You may decry that effort but it stands as a fact.
Zanu-PF is History. If an election were carried out under U.N.auspices tomorrow, they would be lucky to get 20% of the vote.
That tells me that Zanu is just holding out for a better deal than is currently on offer. Trust me, there is no deal on offer. Zanu is DEAD. All they can do is delay the inevitable. Another thing to bear in mind is the thirst for retribution. The Povo will have their day. They will see the culprits of their misery in court or the ICC. They will also see the recovery of the BILLIONS that have been expropriated by Zanu. Why do you think Mugabe and his Ministers are banging on about lifting sanctions. IT’s NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. The monies are GONE and so is any sympathy from SADC
Pamberi neZanu
Realist, you remind me of the days when we used to play dice. we used to say ” Dai kufunga kwebenzi” chuckle!!!!
You have spend a decade with your ifs which are not very usefull. If there was a free and fair election (But you know there isn’t)
If Mugabe goes zanu is dead (But he has not gone)
If there are UN supervised elections (The UN even has their envoy kicked out of the country and you dream of them supervising elections) double chuckle there!!!!!!!
The west has pumped in Billions, have you asked yourself how much they have pumped out at the same time? You think they love you so much that they will pump in billions for some natives in Africa for mahala? Dream on chief.
For your own info, Mugabe and co are harping about sanctions because they know your leader has no control over sanctions and pirate radio stations. Its just a way of keeping him busy, kicking a ball without pressure.
I am amused by your optimism about Zanu pf disapearing into thin air like the morning dew.That is the dangerous wishfull thinking that has made your struggle last too long. Instead of seeing reality on the ground and planning accordingly, you spend your time politically masturbating, wishing the situation were different. There will be no internationally supervised elections, there WILL be zanu pf milittia in the rural areas and your leader will be as powerless as he is now. He will get red carpet welcomes outside the country, but between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers, he will remain the political dwarf that he is, powerless to ask for those issues to be resolved. Now that I have told you the Reality, plan accordingly.NOONE is going to enter Zimbabwe to save you, NO UN and No SADC. You are on your own. The sooner that sinks in the better for us all.
Abel needs to move to Engutsheni Hospital as soon as possible.
Guseni, masturbating here on the forum as usual.What contribution are you giving here? That you know there is a place called Engutsheni?
It will be good for you to go to Engutsheni because only a mad person can talk like you, I am tempted to believe that you are Jonathan Moyo. I have contributed a lot on this forum but people like you demotivate me to contribute as you argue from a zanu perspective, are you a zanu spokesperson (charamba).
On the subject matter I feel that charamba should not be allowed to single handedly run ZBC, this is not good for the country. The SADC Troika needs to address such issues. charamba is not good for the the country, with him at ZBC voice of America will continue reporting on Zimbabwe. No one is watching ZTV anymore because of people like charamba.
Guseni: you say you are demotivated to comment because of Abel’s Zanu perspective…………..Why do you think he spends half his life on this Forum…That is his job. If you stop..he has won.!!! (Editor)
Thank you editor, its the love of the country that makes me come back to this forum and air my views. The people shall win at the end, we have been abused by zanu for a long time. Time will tell on these developments, we must remain positive that zanu will die sooner than expected and Zimbabwe can be rebuilt. There are many investors who want to come and invest funds in the country and the stumbling block is zanu pf.