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Alert

Speaker of Parliament defends media commission interview process

(MISA/IFEX) - The Speaker of Parliament Lovemore Moyo has denied media reports of a deadlock resulting in the alleged concealing of results for the interviews conducted to appoint potential candidates to the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC). He claimed it is normal that people voice concern if their preferred candidate received low marks and confirmed that the matter has been finalised.

"I am happy to say we have fully concluded the matter with 12 names to be sent to His Excellency and six to be sent to the minister of media, information and publicity anytime from now'" confirmed Moyo.

A list of six will be submitted to the President who will in turn appoint three members to serve with the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ). However, still in contention, of which the public is owed an explanation, is how the Standing Rules and Orders Committee (SROC) also bundled the ZMC interviews with those for BAZ. The advertisements placed for applications to be submitted for interviews by the Committee were specifically for the ZMC and made no mention of the possibilities of the interviewees being also considered and shortlisted for BAZ appointments.

BACKGROUND:
A five-member interviewing panel comprising members of SROC on 3 August 2009 interviewed a total of 27 potential candidates who will be shortlisted for appointment to the ZMC and the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ). A four-member panel of experts was also in place to determine the final list of candidates that will be short listed for onward appointment by the President.

Parliament was earlier on reported to have set aside results of the interview in a shock development that seemed to seriously undermine the principle of separation of powers between the executive, legislature and judiciary. The process hit a snag after Zanu PF officials led by Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana allegedly "realised" that the interviews were fraudulent and biased against candidates perceived as sympathisers of Zanu PF.