GROUP 7 MEMBERS

Craig R Jonga R223955F

Blessed Kawadza R224077N

Kundiso Mabhena R2110470

Stacia Nyamatendedza R223995F

Tashinga Zimunya R224063U

Panashe Nikisi R223984N

Isabel Ndlovu R224014U

RESEARCH QUESTION: Public Enterprises in Africa and Zimbabwe have functions that they
fulfill. They have been on record of making a lot of losses. Scholars are seeing as government
finances are being wasted since there are making losses. The question is why should they
continue providing their services as a PE irregardless of making losses?
BACKGROUND OF ZBC.

Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) is a state-owned broadcasting corporation in

Zimbabwe. Established in 1980, it has been the primary broadcaster in the country, providing
radio and television services to the population. ZBC operates several radio stations and television
channels, including national, regional, and community-based services. The corporation plays a
crucial role in disseminating news, entertainment, and educational content to the people of
Zimbabwe. Over the years, ZBC has been instrumental in reflecting the diversity of Zimbabwean
culture, promoting government initiatives, and serving as a platform for public information and
communication.

The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), a public service broadcaster established in

1980, has been a bastion of Zimbabwean media, a herald of news, entertainment, and
information to its citizens. This field work write up touches on several aspects such as the
history, financial challenges of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Cooperation, operations and its
significance in the society for the government to keep on funding it regardless of making losses.
However, its financial woes have cast a shadow of uncertainty over its future, a narrative
explored in depth by numerous scholars, including Mabweazara et al. (2020) and Matanda
(2018). The maintenance of ZBC as a public enterprise is important, despite losses because it is
essential for upholding its public service functions, cultural significance and role in promoting
democracy, information dissemination and national unity. These are reasons why it might be in
the government's best interest to continue funding the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation
(ZBC) even when it is making losses as our write up highlighted that the public service ZBC
plays is vital as it provides news and information to citizens, which is crucial for maintaining a
functioning democracy. Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) should be sustained despite
financial losses as a public enterprise for the following reasons:

1. Public Service Mandate: ZBC serves as a crucial platform for disseminating unbiased news,
educational programs, and promoting national interests, contributing to an informed citizenry.

2. Cultural Preservation: ZBC plays a vital role in preserving Zimbabwean culture, languages,
traditions, and heritage through its programming, fostering national identity and unity.

3. Government Communication: It serves as a key channel for government-led information

dissemination, ensuring transparency and accountability to the public.

4. Media Pluralism: ZBC, as a state-owned broadcaster alongside private media, contributes to

media diversity and ensures a range of viewpoints are accessible to the public.

5. Employment Opportunities: Sustaining ZBC supports jobs in the broadcasting sector,

contributing to employment and economic stability.

6. National Security: ZBC plays a role in national security by providing emergency broadcasting
services, public safety announcements, and disseminating vital information during crises.

7. Regional Outreach: ZBC ensures that even remote areas have access to broadcasting services,
bridging the urban-rural information gap and promoting inclusivity.

8. Development Communication: It supports development initiatives, educates the public on

health, agriculture, and other relevant topics, contributing to national progress and growth.

The history of ZBC, highlighting its significance in Zimbabwe’s post-colonial landscape and its
evolution from the Rhodesian Broadcasting Cooperation (RBC) to the ZBC. The researchers
noted that the ZBC, like its predecessor, has faced accusations of being a government
mouthpiece, which has affected its credibility and financial stability.The analysis of the funding
sources of the ZBC, including advertising, licensing fees, government grants, and production
facilities leasing, all of which have been affected by changing technological and political
landscapes.

As Zimbabwe emerged from the clutches of British colonial rule in 1980, the establishment of
the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) was a momentous milestone in the country’s
post-independence journey. Birthed from the ashes of the Rhodesian Broadcasting Cooperation
(RBC), ZBC was envisioned as a beacon of impartiality, entrusted with the sacred task of
informing, educating, and entertaining the Zimbabwean populace. The financial bedrock of the
Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) rests on two intertwined pillars, government
subsidies and advertising revenue. The former, a sizable lifeline provided by the state, sustains
the broadcaster’s operations, staff remuneration, and program production, a manifestation of the
government's commitment to its national broadcaster. The latter, a variable stream of income
generated by commercial breaks and sponsorships, fluctuates with the vagaries of market trends
and audience viewership.

The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), a multi-channel broadcasting behemoth,

towers over the Zimbabwean media landscape, disseminating a spectrum of content spanning
news, current affairs, entertainment, and education (Matanda, 2018). With its diverse radio and
television offerings, the organization strives to cater to the interests and preferences of the
country’s diverse population, a veritable mixture of cultures, languages, and perspectives.
Despite these efforts, ZBC has been dogged by accusations of being a mouthpiece for the ruling
ZANU PF party, a perception that has eroded public trust and reduced advertising revenue.
Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) is the state-owned broadcasting corporation in
Zimbabwe. Established in 1980, it has been the primary broadcaster in the country, providing
radio and television services to the population. ZBC operates several radio stations and television
channels, including national, regional, and community-based services. The corporation plays a
crucial role in disseminating news, entertainment, and educational content to the people of
Zimbabwe. Over the years, ZBC has been instrumental in reflecting the diversity of Zimbabwean
culture, promoting government initiatives, and serving as a platform for public information and
communication. The charge of political bias has become a recurrent theme in the discourse
surrounding the broadcaster, as it wrestles with the challenge of maintaining its independence
and credibility in an increasingly polarized media landscape.

The long arm of financial troubles has gripped Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) in an
unrelenting embrace, leading to sustained losses. This state of affairs has been attributed to a
complex tapestry of factors, including mismanagement, high operational costs, antiquated
infrastructure, and fierce competition from private media outlets. The Zimbabwean economy,
teetering on the brink of uncertainty, has also played its part, curtailing advertising expenditure
and shrinking the pool of revenue that sustains ZBC’s operations.

To compound these woes, ZBC’s image as a state-owned broadcaster has been called into
question, as allegations of political bias have led many potential advertisers and sponsors to shy
away from partnering with the organization. This has further depleted its coffers and underscored
the urgent need for structural and operational reforms to arrest the tide of losses and restore ZBC
to a position of financial stability and public trust. Embroiled in a tempestuous sea of financial
struggles, ZBC, a stalwart of Zimbabwean media, stands as a bastion of national unity, a haven
for public discourse, and a repository of cultural heritage. As a public broadcaster, its role in
upholding democratic ideals, facilitating informed citizenship, and engendering social cohesion
cannot be overemphasized. Despite the challenges it faces, ZBC remains a vital conduit for
information, education, and entertainment. The government, cognizant of the broadcaster’s
importance, must strike a delicate balance between fiscal prudence and the preservation of these
essential services. In continuing to support ZBC, the government safeguards not only the
broadcaster’s existence but also the democratic principles and cultural diversity that underpin
Zimbabwean society.

To conclude we have traversed the tumultuous path of Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation’s

journey, unraveling the strands of its past, present, and potential future. While the broadcaster’s
challenges are myriad, so too are the opportunities for reform and growth. As a foundational
pillar of Zimbabwean society, ZBC’s continuation hinges on the will and action of its
stakeholders, the government chief among them. The government’s backing, fortified by
structural reforms and innovative strategies, can ensure ZBC’s longevity, enabling it to stand the
test of time as a trusted, transformative presence in Zimbabwe’s evolving media landscape. In
this discourse, we have ventured into the complex web of financial struggles, public trust, and
the crucial role of ZBC as a public broadcaster in Zimbabwe. While the challenges are real, the
potential for a brighter future is equally real. The government’s continued support of ZBC serves
as a beacon of hope, illuminating the path towards a more vibrant, independent, and inclusive
media landscape. In acknowledging the importance of sustaining ZBC, we acknowledge the
significance of maintaining a platform that embodies the voices and values of the Zimbabwean
people, a testament to the enduring power of public broadcasting in a changing world.