HOSIAH Chipanga has partly won the battle to have his politically-charged album Hero Shoko played on the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation's stations.

In June, ZBC imposed a ban on Chipanga's latest release because it fired broadsides at the Zanu PF leadership.

But the popular sungura musician refused to take the matter lying down and took it up with his lawyers.

In its latest communication with the musician's lawyers -- Gutu Chikowero Attorneys -- the country's sole broadcaster said it would now play tracks picked from the album that it "found to be in order".

But the letter did not specify which tracks had been found "in order" or the ones that were still barred from airplay.

ZBC emphasises that the decision on selection of the tracks was political.

"After listening to the six tracks on Hero Shoko we are of the view that some of the tracks contain provocative political statements which we feel are out of place especially during this time of the infancy of the inclusive government," says part of the letter seen by Standardplus.

"As a public broadcaster, it is our duty to promote harmony in society.

"We will accord airplay to those tracks which we found to be in order."

Ironically, ZBC and the print public media have been identified by the MDC and human rights groups as some of the biggest threats to the inclusive government because of the hate speech they churn out everyday.

In previous interviews, officials from the broadcaster said the whole album was political.

They also claimed some of the tracks were laden with hidden political satire.

Chipanga's album was banned from airplay in June, a month after its release and Chipanga battled to get an explanation from the corporation before he took the legal route.

His lawyer Panganayi Hare said they would accept ZBC's current position but would monitor its stations to check on the tracks that would be accorded airplay.

He said they would take further action if the broadcaster fails to execute its latest undertaking to their satisfaction.

"It is a development on the positive side. Chipanga solely depends on music for income and we hope the airplay would enhance his relationship with fans, which will be an advantage even for his live shows," Hare said.

"Artists should be left to freely express themselves because freedom of expression is enshrined in the constitution."

Chipanga also welcomed the partial lifting of the ban but said he would have been happier if the whole album had been unbanned.

"If they will play some tracks, it is an improvement on their initial position but I do not see any reason why someone should suggest what music people listen to.

"We should be free to express ourselves in any way," Chipanga said.

In the album, Chipanga berates President Robert Mugabe's previous administration for running down the economy and the partisan conferment of the national hero status.