ZBC fails to screen live coverage of Mugabe’s birthday

By Violet Gonda
24 February 2007

Robert Mugabe celebrated turning 83 on Wednesday but for the ordinary people in the country there is precious little to cheer about. His birthday could also not have come at a worse time. Analysts say the country is on the brink of collapse. Zimbabwe has the world’s highest inflation rate at 1600 percent while unemployment is pegged at 80 percent. Food, fuel, power and foreign currency are in short supply. Massive celebrations were planned by Zanu PF for Saturday amidst accusations the ruling party sought over US$1,2 million to finance the bash.

Our Correspondent Simon Muchemwa said on Saturday the ZBC failed to screen live coverage of Mugabe’s party on television. This is the first time that the state broadcaster has failed to broadcast this event, since the ruling party began celebrating the octogenarian’s 21st February movement, several years ago. Muchemwa said it appeared as if the ZBC experienced a technical problem, as Mugabe was about to deliver his speech. It’s not known if it was a real technical problem or deliberate blackout.

This is the second time this week that the ZBC has had problems with airing the controversial leader’s speech. On Friday the Zimbabwe Independent reported that the state broadcaster had heavily censored Mugabe’s remarks on Zanu PF’s explosive power struggle. The paper said the editing of Mugabe’s birthday interview, which was broadcast on Wednesday, resulted in the removal of what would have been a valuable insight into the president’s thinking.

We were not able to get full details of what transpired in Gweru on Saturday, where the birthday party is being held, at the time of going to press. But a source close to the events told us one prominent banner at the birthday bash read: "Succession politics not ouster politics please”. Observers say this is very telling of the infighting within ZANU PF. Two factions allegedly led by retired general Solomon Mujuru and another by rural affairs minister Emerson Mnangagwa are said to be fighting for control of the party which will determine who succeeds Mugabe. Plans by Mugabe to extend his own term via the harmonisation of the presidential election due in 2008 with the parliamentary one in 2010 have also met stiff resistance within and outside Zanu PF.