ZBC News

In Zimbabwe, there are just two TV channels to watch if you don’t have satellite. A few nights ago one of Mikaela’s friends, Ryan Koriya, was going to have a spotlight on him during the nightly national news. He was born here in Zim, and for the past 7 years has been in England trying to make it as a musician (www.ryankoriya.com) and is back in town to record his album. He said the news studio looked like it hadn’t changed since 1947. While waiting for the special to appear (Photo), I jotted down some of the top news stories that came up, and included (in parenthesis) parts of the real story:

-There is an international ban on Zimbabwe diamonds. Anyone who is caught trading them abroad will be punished. Quoting a Zimbabwean official: The ban is an act of war (by the West), which of course is what we have known for some time”. (Mugabe and his cronies own the mines, and the diamonds are considered “blood diamonds”)

-Harare Man suspected of Domestic Violence is in Court after dumping his pregnant girlfriend in a sewage drain. He is charged with attempted murder. After she was dumped alive, it took three days for her to find a place large enough to exit. He duped her to think he wanted to take her to meet the relatives, and got rid of her on the way.

-Zimbabwe Revenue Authorities say that 22 out of 25 highway Toll Gates are in operation. The US 15 million collected so far is to be allocated for road rehabilitation. (All the money is being used to spruce up Mugabe’s rural hometown)

-Lack of government support has made government provided low income housing a challenge. International sanctions are the cause of the government’s financial problems. In Harare, 3000 homes (sheds more like) have been built in the past decade.

-University of Zimbabwe awarded 637 Education degrees today. Shortage of university lecturers is a challenge.

-The national soccer team is struggling to stay afloat as a team because no other international teams come to play them.

-Head of State and Government and Commander in Chief of the Zimbabwe Defense Forces President Robert Mugabe addresses SADC. Don’t miss his stirring address, airing at 9.

-A Zimbabwean official spoke about the strength of SADC: It protects Zimbabwe from “continual political influences of the exterior, the ugly hand of foreigners are continuously trying to fuel conflict in our country. SADC is one of the strongest forces why apartheid ended.”

The international news was full of jabs at the US when it was possible:
-As the US prepares to leave Iraq, it is leaving only a tradition of anarchy. The US went there to secure its oil in the first place.

-Ambassadors from Pakistan, Indonesia, and Sweden all visited Zimbabwe promising more aid when the “conditions are right”.

Both nights that we watched the news, detailed accounts of floods in China were included. This is because there are large numbers of Chinese workers who work here on joint Chinese-Zimbabwe government projects.
The advertisements were interesting- being the same 3-4 repeated over and over again.

-An ad reminding viewers to be mindful of the spread HIV, wash their hands after being in public places, and to take their anti viral medications (ARV’s).

-Be sure to register your cell phone with the government by August 31st

-ZBC provides 2 TV and 4 radio stations for your listening pleasure (That’s it- no others). By paying the license fees, you help ZBC to provide good service for you. Help us satisfy your listening and viewing pleasures. Below are the license fees you need to pay if you have a TV or Radio:

Home radio license $20
Business Radio $50
Company vehicle radio $80
Personal Vehicle Radio $30
Home TV license- $50
Company TV License $100
Vehicle sound and TV license- $100
(The home licenses are per lot- so Janet and Esther’s TVs are included when the Lanes pay)

-This September, don’t forget the newest soap opera. (It is set in prehistoric Zimbabwe- replete with guys in loincloths)

-Coming Soon Hawkeye (re-runs of American West drama)

In the end, Ryan’s special never aired. He said that right before the broadcast he received a text from the producer:

“Technical difficulties, will air tomorrow”