Jacob Mudenda has taken aim at Star FM and ZTV, accusing both broadcasters of falling short in how they present Zimbabwe to the public. The National Assembly Speaker raised his concerns at a pre-budget gathering in Bulawayo, where he urged local media to give more care to the nation's culture and public image.
Star FM got a direct mention. Mudenda said he often tunes in while driving home, but some of what he hears leaves him far from pleased. In his view, parts of the station's output lack value and do little to show Zimbabwe in a good light.
And it wasn't just the topics that bothered him. The Speaker also took issue with the choice of words used by certain radio hosts. He thinks presenters need to watch their language, as speaking to a wide audience comes with a duty to treat listeners with respect.
His other concern was how much space local languages get on radio and TV. Mudenda wants stations to play a larger role in keeping Zimbabwe's cultural roots alive. For him, the way people speak is closely tied to how they see themselves and their place in society.
That point led him to call for action from two government departments. He wants the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture to develop rules that help people use and value indigenous languages in public life.
Mudenda also raised a long-term concern. He warned that Zimbabwe could lose much of its cultural identity within 50 years if people fail to protect their native languages. His argument is that the damage may go far beyond what people hear on radio or watch on television.
The comments put a wider issue in view. Mudenda wants broadcasters to do more than fill airtime, with language, culture, and respect playing a greater role in what reaches the public.
Star FM got a direct mention. Mudenda said he often tunes in while driving home, but some of what he hears leaves him far from pleased. In his view, parts of the station's output lack value and do little to show Zimbabwe in a good light.
And it wasn't just the topics that bothered him. The Speaker also took issue with the choice of words used by certain radio hosts. He thinks presenters need to watch their language, as speaking to a wide audience comes with a duty to treat listeners with respect.
His other concern was how much space local languages get on radio and TV. Mudenda wants stations to play a larger role in keeping Zimbabwe's cultural roots alive. For him, the way people speak is closely tied to how they see themselves and their place in society.
That point led him to call for action from two government departments. He wants the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture to develop rules that help people use and value indigenous languages in public life.
Mudenda also raised a long-term concern. He warned that Zimbabwe could lose much of its cultural identity within 50 years if people fail to protect their native languages. His argument is that the damage may go far beyond what people hear on radio or watch on television.
The comments put a wider issue in view. Mudenda wants broadcasters to do more than fill airtime, with language, culture, and respect playing a greater role in what reaches the public.
