Zimbabwe's new minister of information, Jonathan Moyo, has initiated a purge at the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), but media and civil society say his efforts are not enough and are far from what is needed to turn the ailing institution into an ideal public broadcaster.
Moyo, who was appointed in August, last week fired the entire ZBC board, led by businessman Cuthbert Dube, before sending its chief executive officer Happison Muchechetere and the head of technical services Shadreck Mupeni on leave.
Two days later, he ordered a forensic audit of ZBC's finances amid suspicions of financial irregularities.
Recent media reports claimed executives were earning up to $20 000 a month yet journalists and other staff have gone for six months without salaries.
To facilitate the audit, Moyo also put ZBC's general manager Elliot Kasu and head of finance Ralph Nyambudzi on forced leave.
Zanu-PF mouthpiece
Staff this week welcomed Moyo's clean-up campaign, but want him to stop the broadcaster from acting as a Zanu-PF mouthpiece.
Under the coalition government, the two Movement for Democratic Change formations demanded reform of the broadcaster, which it said was partisan.
None of the government's recommendations were implemented.
In the run-up to the July 31 elections, employees were forced to wear Zanu-PF campaign regalia to work.
With Moyo ringing in changes at ZBC, professionals at the institution, media activists and independent broadcasters were adamant that the ZBC needs to be protected from political interference.
Takura Zhangazha, the outgoing executive director of the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe, said a change of personalities at ZBC did not necessarily mean a change in its propagandist ethos.