BAZ advertises two radio licences

commercial radio licences.
BAZ set June 30, 2011 as the deadline for applications. The authority said the licences would be for 10 years.
The licence application fees will be US$2 500 with the public enquiry put at US$7 500.
The fee will be US$15 000 per year with a one percent gross turnover or deemed turnover per annum for the licence period.
The frequency fees will cost US$30 per frequency per site per month while the Broadcasting Fund will be 0,5 percent of the audited annual gross turnover or deemed turnover payable annually.
“In terms of Section 10 of the Broadcasting Services Act [Chapter 12:06], the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe hereby invites applications for licences to provide the following classes of licences: Free to air national commercial radio broadcasting service,” BAZ said in a statement.
Media, Information and Publicity Minister Webster Shamu last year urged BAZ to license more radio and television stations to ensure access to information in marginalised parts of Zimbabwe.
Addressing delegates at a BAZ strategic planning workshop for 2011 in Harare, Minister Shamu said access to information was a right for every citizen.
“Universal access to broadcasting services has remained on the Government’s wish list for the past two decades, but regrettably little progress has been made in that direction.
“The enabling Act is in place to guide the authority on the criteria that should be used when granting licences to new players.
“The economy is turning around and it is our desire to assist you to mobilise the resources required to provide technical wherewithal for services and reforms envisaged in the broadcasting sector including the phasing in of digitalised transmission networks to meet the Sadc deadline of December 2013 by which broadcasting must be digital.”
Licensing of more broadcasters is one of the requirements of the Global Political Agreement, which gave birth to the inclusive government.