Rashweat Mukundu
A song composed by Tongai Moyo, a popular Zimbabwean musician, has reportedly been denied air play by the state-controlled Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) which has sole monopoly of the country’s airwaves.
According to the weekly Standard newspaper’s edition of 18-24 January 2009, Moyo confirmed that the song: Kukanda Nekuvhika, had been banned by Radio Zimbabwe because it is deemed critical of Zanu PF. ZBC's public relations manager Sivukile Simango, however, denied that the song had been banned. A disc jockey at Radio Zimbabwe reportedly confirmed the ban and said they were given orders not to play the song.
"No song from Tongai's new album has been removed from the airwaves. Maybe it's just the DJs who do not want to play it," said Simango.
The song allegedly makes references to the power sharing agreement signed by Zanu PF and the two MDC formations in Harare on 15 September 2008. Moyo denies that his song is about President Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF but that as a musician it is his business to comment on day-to-day socio-economic and political developments in the country.
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