It has been revealed that one of the reasons for the firing of former Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) chief executive Adelaide Chikurongo was because she acquired the state broadcaster’s Starlink internet kit despite the government’s position that it was illegal.
Starlink is a satellite internet service operated by Elon Musk’s American space company Spacex.
Zimbabwe was not licensed
Starlink and last month a Chinese company was accused of using the service illegally.
Pictures of ZBC’s external broadcast truck with the Starlink set on top have appeared online and there have been attempts to deny that the state-controlled broadcaster was using the service, but this publication can now reveal that one of the reasons Chikurungu was dragged into a disciplinary hearing related to the kit.
She resigned a few days after she was suspended in a humiliating manner with ZBC immediately taking away her service vehicle and mobile phones.
Chikurungu was also ordered not to enter ZBC headquarters and stop using her work email until the investigations against her go smoothly.
To avoid a disciplinary hearing, the former ZBC president relinquished his position on Friday.
One of the charges she was facing was that she oversaw the purchase of a Starlink internet device from Neville, the son of former Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa.
Previously, ZBC used the Live View and Aviworth internet services to broadcast live in rural areas where connectivity from local mobile network operators was non-existent.
ZBC failed to meet its contractual obligations with LiveView and Avwest Streamhub, cutting off the streaming network and executives were said to have stuck with Starlink as a stop-gap measure.
ZBC Board of Directors Chikunguru felt it had exposed the national broadcaster to a serious security threat by dealing with a company whose data policies the local authorities were unaware of.
“The board feels that the purchase of the Starlink kit, which is not registered in Zimbabwe, was in violation of the law and poses a very serious threat to national security,” a senior ZBC director said on condition of anonymity.
“Since it is not registered in the country, it also posed a significant risk to ZBC’s reputation.”
Chikongoro is also accused of forcing ZBC to pay US$150,000 annually to Azam TV, a satellite TV company launched in the country by Monica Mutsvangwa in January 2022.
Without allocating any resources to production, ZBC paid US$150,000 a year to Azam to carry entertainment channel Jive TV.
Chikongoro is said to have overseen the deal, which Mutsvangwa gave the go-ahead.
ZBC did not finance a single production for the channel, despite the huge amounts of money it paid to Azzam.
She is also accused of failing to prepare for coverage of last year’s elections as the broadcaster did not have anchors and reporters for news and current affairs.
Working without vehicles for journalists.
Chikunguru was also investigated for allegedly “buying” controversial prizes using ZBC funds.
ZBC received $5,939.98 for various awards from Perfection Media, MegaFest Holdings, Zimbabwe Corporate Trust, Marketers Association of Zimbabwe, CSR Network Zimbabwe and the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) Responsible Business and Environmental Stewardship Awards from November 2021 to the end of 2023. The information it received shows The Standard.
The national broadcaster had to buy expensive tables for the awards ceremonies where Chikungoro was honoured.
The sources said
July He was accused of causing a payment of US$15,000 to African Leadership (UK) Limited registered in England and Wales under the guise of advertising ZBC in the magazine owned by the company.
Curiously, the company awarded the African Women Leadership Award to Chikungoro.
She is also being investigated for numerous financial and corporate malpractices, including traveling outside the country without board approval Claim amounts that were exceeded Those set out in the ZBC policies for accommodation, airtime and taxi fares.
Two weeks ago, this post revealed serious clashes Between July management and ZBC workers due to poor working conditions.
In a letter to the ZBC board, the workers accused Chikungoro of making decisions that made their conditions of service unbearable.
The workers accused Chikongoro, human resources director Julius Thuringebe, and company secretary Patricia Muchingwa of undermining the ZBC board.
Laborers The trio was accused of intentional delay
Workers’ salary increases as a means to sabotage the new Heliate Rushwaya project blackboard.
In a letter to Information Minister Jeannevan Mossoire dated 14 November 2023, the workers also complained about travel and subsistence allowances, which they said were less than specified in ZBC policies.
“While all this was going on, ZBC executives reportedly submitted budgets to the Office of the President and Cabinet indicating they were paying employees about US$135 for each day they worked when they were essentially paying the equivalent of US$135.” “US$25 interbank,” the letter to Mosweyer said.
“This has left staff frustrated and therefore considering taking a break from outside broadcast coverage until the issue is resolved.”
Roshwa could not be reached for comment yesterday. standard