SABC to open bureau in Zimbabwe ahead of 2008 elections

By Lance Guma
12 April 2007

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) plans to set up a bureau in Zimbabwe ahead of scheduled elections in 2008. SABC Managing Director Snuki Zikalala met Zimbabwean Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu on Wednesday and reportedly discussed the setting up of the office. Analysts interviewed by Newsreel say the development is a potential double-edged sword. Rev Nicholas Mkaronda, the Director of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition chapter in South Africa, said while it is good to have different media getting information out, ‘our concern is that we have a government deciding who can open a station and who cannot.’ He also said the SABC has over the years made clear its loyalty to the ANC government position on Zimbabwe.

Zikalala meanwhile said the SABC wants to enhance its coverage of events in Zimbabwe. ‘We felt that it is important to have a presence here so that we cover the true Zimbabwean story,’ Zikalala said. ‘It is a very important story. It's a story that is unfolding and there are a lot of good stories in Zimbabwe that need coverage.’ Supa Mandiwanzira the Chief Executive Officer of Mighty Movies, the company that currently represents the SABC in Zimbabwe, accompanied Zikalala during the meetings. The SABC chief said they also want to position themselves fully to cover the elections in 2008 and that they should be in the country if the likes of Al Jazeera were already there.

He also said they want to bring in more journalists to cover next year's elections and that they had already discussed the accreditation of the journalists with Minister Ndlovu during the meeting. ‘We brought 54 South African journalists to cover the last elections and we are likely to bring the same number to cover next year's elections," he said. Rev Mkaronda however said previous elections in Zimbabwe have exposed the SABC as failing in their duty. He says unlike other media outlets the SABC had access to government ministers but failed to expose what was happening on the ground or question them. ‘One finds it unethical for the SABC to be allowed to operate when the Daily news was bombed,’ he remarked.

Zikalala has been the subject of several protests in South Africa over accusations he is a ‘government stooge’ and ‘propagandist.’ The Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) and the Social Movement Indaba in South Africa led pickets last month calling for his dismissal. They have also called for the implementation of recommendations by the Sisulu commission of inquiry into the blacklisting of political commentators by the SABC. The inquiry found that Zikalala made misleading statements when denying the existence of a blacklist that banned certain analysts that included publisher Trevor Ncube and Elinor Sisulu from the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition. Zikalala is also accused of censoring any stories that paint the ruling ANC party in a negative light.