Zimbabweans unhappy as gov forces radio licence on motorists

Staff Writer4 weeks ago

0 274 2 minutes read

Zimbabweans are unhappy after revelations that Motorists will soon be forced to buy a radio licence before getting a vehicle licence or insurance cover.

The Herald reports that Information Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere, said yesterday the Cabinet considered and adopted the Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill, presented by Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi as Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Legislation.

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The major objective of the Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill is to align the Broadcasting Services Act [Chapter 12:06] with the Constitution and also with the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act.

“The enactment of the legislation will amend several sections of the Broadcasting Services Act [Chapter 12:06]. Of special mention is the amendment of section 2A of the principal Act on the role of the Broadcasting Services of Zimbabwe which is to regulate and manage the broadcasting services bands for sustenance rather than control of broadcasting service bands.

“The Bill will also provide a new provision, which will prohibit the Zimbabwe National Road Administration and every motor insurance cover to sell a motor vehicle licence and motor insurance policy respectively to individuals without the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation current radio licence or an exemption certificate from the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, unless the vehicle to be insured is not equipped with a radio signal receiver,” he said.

Dr Muswere said the Bill mandates the national broadcaster to broadcast 75 percent in local content. Further, the Bill will provide for a licencee with a sports channel to broadcast 50 percent local sports content in view of the fact that sporting events are universal and international sports may bring commercial value to licencees.

Zimbabweans have expressed disdain to this move citing that most of them do not even listen to local radio.

@terilmoyo

At $90 per year, ZBC is most expensive worthless service in the world. The gvt should be guided by the sentiment that media is now highly diversified and people no longer depend on ZBC to the extend that warranties a $90 fee per year. ZBC should be around $5 annually

@Mazvake2023

So tomorrow I will be forced to pay for using a cell phone by telone.
If it was BAZ am sure people will comply, secondly it has to be cheaper.
ZBC is a service provider am not going to be forced to pay ZBC when am not using it’s services.
Introduce pay per view then