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The Standard published the story under the headline “ZBC faces collapse as managers plunder” on November 13 claiming that the broadcaster had failed to pay its workers for the past three months, but was giving hefty salaries, allowances and loans to managers.

The story also claimed ZBC had obsolete transmission equipment.

In a letter to The Standard yesterday, ZBC chief executive Mr Happison Muchechetere dismissed the allegations and demanded a page one retraction and US$10 million for defamation. “In the circumstances we demand, as we hereby do, a full retraction of the story and payment of US$10 million as defamation damages,” Mr Muchechetere said.

The claim is against the paper, its editor and the reporter who wrote the story. “We demand that the payment be made within seven days of receipt of the letter, failing which we will proceed to have summons issued through the High Court without further notice to you,” he said.

Mr Muchechetere said the “libelous, defamatory and scandalous” allegations were reported as fact.