Tich Mataz bounces back on StarFM radio station
Entertainment

Tich Mataz bounces back on StarFM radio station

POPULAR radio DJ Tichafa Matambanadzo, better known as Tich Mataz, is back at StarFM as part of management efforts to prop up the struggling broadcasting station.

Mataz is returning as a guest presenter to the same radio station where he was accused of fraud by parent company, Zimpapers.

Workers at the loss-making radio station said management decided to rehire the vastly experienced Mataz in a desperate bit to attract more advertisers.

“The management felt that if he comes back he could also attract advertisers as he has good voice and influence within the industry,” said one staffer.

“The station needs someone with more experience in radio, hence the rehiring of Mataz despite his court cases of defrauding the same company,” added an employee with the station’s marketing department.

Matambanadzo was arrested after allegations that he had swindled StarFM of some $126 946, 65 between June 25 2012 and May 2013.

He was suspended together with Zanu PF activist and losing Member of Parliament for candidate Hatfield constituency, Acie Lumumba.

Lumumba has also since been rehired by the company.

In a short statement released by its station manager, StarFM said Tich was returning as a ‘guest presenter’.

“Renowned broadcaster, Tichafa Matambanadzo, popularly known as Tich Mataz, returns to the airwaves on November 21st, as a guest presenter.

“The Midas Touch will present the popular Friday Crossover (FXO) slot as a guest presenter on Star FM from 12 midday to 3pm.

“Mataz joins the popular old school duo of Otis ‘Da Flow’ Fraser and Kelvin ‘Soul Supreme’ Sifelani at the fastest growing station in the nation.

“Matambanadzo and Sifelani will continue to make guest appearances at the station until further notice,” reads the Statement.

Commenting on why Tich was back considering that he has a court case still pending, general manager, Darlick Marundure: “We sent out a statement and he is coming back.

“There is nothing peculiar about that and on the reason he was fired in the first place, those are legal matters which him and lawyers only can address.”

Tich said company management had resolved that he should come back on a temporary basis.

“I cannot tell you who approached who. You should just take it as a case of a man and woman who broke up and got back together. What matters is the end result,” he said.

The DJ allegedly misrepresented to Star FM’s clients that the station did not have the capacity to produce certain programmes and that he was an agent of the station through companies called Hamtec and Onesay Investments.

Prosecutors claim the DJ allegedly used StarFM letterheads, purporting that the radio station had contracted the two companies to advertise on its behalf.
As a result of the misrepresentation, Constitutional Select Committee, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, European Union, American Embassy, Ster Kinekor and OK Zimbabwe approached Hamtec and Onesay and placed their adverts, which were later aired on Star FM.

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