Did ZBC win “best TV award” at ZITF?

CLAIM: ZBC won the Best Television Award at this year’s Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF).

Source: Various social media posts.

VERDICT: FALSE: ZBC did not win any award at the 2021 ZITF. There was no category for “best television station station” among the 21 categories that were awarded.

Claims that the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), which currently operates the country’s sole national, free-to-air television station, had been given the “best television award” at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) late last month went viral on both Twitter and Facebook.

Various social media accounts, including an imposter “ZBC” on Twitter, pushed the claim.

The claims drew ridicule for both the ZITF and ZBC, which has a monopoly on broadcast television in the country.

Zimbabwe is one of the few countries where the state still has a monopoly on broadcast television. The government issued six television licences in November 2020 and gave the licencees 18 months to start broadcasting. None of the stations has gone live yet.

ZITF board chairman Busisa Moyo has refuted the claim that the fair had given a “best television” award to ZBC.

“That is fake news, there was no such award given to ZBC,” Moyo told ZimFact.

The ZITF has made available, a list of all the winners from this year’s fair.

Below is the table of 2021 exhibition competition winners:

CategoryWinner
EnergyMinistry of Energy and Power Development.
First time exhibitorsGlytime Foods
Tourism and TravelNational Railways of Zimbabwe
Medical and health relatedPremier Medical Aid Society
Information Communication TechnologyTel One
Civic ParticipationCity of Gweru
Education and TrainingMinistry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development
Small to medium Enterprises ZANU (PF)
Agriculture and or Irrigation EquipmentWelthungerlife
Construction, Building and HardwareTreger Products
Furniture, home improvement and interiorTreger Products
Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics and Toiletries Group  LEC Biotech
Food GroupDelta Corporation Limited
Mining and Engineering ABC Firetech
Packaging, Plastics, Stationary/ Publishing and Printing SectorMinistry of Women Affairs , Community Small and Medium Enterprise Development
Motor TradeCMED
Business support and regulatory authoritiesPublic Service Commission
Clothing, footwear, textiles and accessoriesMinistry of Women Affairs , Community Small and Medium Enterprise Development
Non Industrial or non-commercial displayMinistry of Defence: Zimbabwe National Army
Supreme Zimbabwe ExhibitMinistry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development
Most outstanding foreign displayMureza Auto

CONCLUSION: The claim that ZBC won a “best television” award at this year’s Zimbabwe International Trade Fair is false.

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