HARARE - There was public outrage at the weekend over the manner in which state media organizations are covering political events.
Speaking at a public meeting organized by  the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Media, Information, Publicity, Communication and Technology to collect public views on the state of the public media, members of the public accused the Herald and ZBC of biased reporting.
"We wonder what this Global Political Agreement (GPA) is all about, because it is a  one sided affair when it comes to coverage of issues. Why should the president be required to appoint the ZBC board? That should stop, unless there are some ulterior motives. There must be interviews and those suitable should simply take up the jobs," said Kurai Madzonga, of FEBA Radio Zimbabwe.
Indigenous businessman, Paddington Japajapa, told the meeting that despite the existence of an inclusive government, the state media had decided to take sides.
"The state media has decided to become the mouthpiece of Zanu (PF) yet it is supposed to be a platform for the voiceless. Pikirayi Deketeke and Caesar Zvayi are continuing to feed this nation with propaganda and rubbish continuing to pour vitriol and scorn even on the office of the Prime Minister. These people are a shame," said Japajapa.
"Parliament must, with immediate effect, make some changes at ZBC and Herald if the GPA is to work," he added.
The parliamentary committee was represented by its chairman, Gift Chimanikire and Bright Matonga.
A young high school girl, Precious Chidhuku, told the meeting: "ZBC should not be collecting any license fees from Zimbabweans because it is not providing any service. I can't watch ZBC because there is nothing to watch. If I had my own house I would not pay any license fees. It is so pathetic that it makes many of us young people dislike our country."
Another participant claimed he had evidence that the "news" in the Herald was vetted at the Ministry of Information before being published. Another Harare resident asked Parliament to consider moving a motion for the full privatization of ZBC and Herald, saying the government had no business running media organizations.
Chimanikire promised that his committee would bring change to the country's media landscape.