Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda has criticised the quality of content broadcast by some media houses, including Star FM and ZTV, describing it as pedestrian, unconstructive and lacking cultural sensitivity.

Speaking at the ongoing Pre-Budget Seminar in Bulawayo on Thursday, Mudenda called for significant improvements in broadcasting standards, urging media practitioners to promote Zimbabwe’s national image and respect audiences.

“I think there is a need for more nationalistic, regional and international in those areas. We need to improve greatly,” he said.

Mudenda singled out Star FM for criticism, recounting an experience while driving home when he questioned his driver and aide about the station’s content.

“You listen to Star FM. I’m driving home, and I say to my ADC and the driver, ‘Do you listen to that?’ Very pedantic and pedestrian content. Not constructive of the image of Zimbabwe,” he said.

He also criticised some presenters appearing on Star FM and ZTV, accusing them of lacking a sense of cultural responsibility and using language he described as inappropriate for public broadcasting.

“These little fellows who appear on Star FM, sometimes ZTV, have no sense of cultural duty. Nothing. And some of the language is very unpalatable to hear,” Mudenda said.

He urged broadcasters to exercise greater responsibility in their choice of language and content, emphasising the need to respect listeners.

“There are certain ways you cannot use in the public domain. And you must respect the listeners,” he said.

Mudenda’s remarks come amid broader discussions about the role of the media in shaping public discourse and projecting Zimbabwe’s image, with his comments highlighting concerns over professionalism, cultural standards and the quality of broadcasting content.

This is not the first time Star FM has been called out for its broadcasting content; listeners have repeatedly criticised the quality of their content, presenter selection, and amount of airtime given to prophets.