Online Reporter
Farirai Machivenyika
Senior Reporter
THE cost of obtaining a ZBC car radio licence, television licence, other levies and fees issued by various Government Ministries and departments, will be reviewed downwards within the next six months following a Cabinet decision this week, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere, has said.
Dr Muswere said this in the National Assembly on Wednesday while responding to concerns by legislators that the $30 being charged to get a car radio licence per term was too high, with proposals for it to be reduced to between US$5 and US$15.
Following amendments that were passed by Parliament and signed into law by the President this year, it is now mandatory to buy a car radio licence first before buying a vehicle licence or insurance.
“Yesterday (Tuesday), when we were in Cabinet, a decision was passed to review the prices of the levies and licences,” he said.
“This was done looking at the categories, which amount to 12, which include the Broadcasting Services Act, which states that ZBC, working together with the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, has a responsibility to review the prices.
“The decision, which was taken yesterday (Tuesday) agreed that the reviews must be done through the directive which was passed by President Mnangagwa, that the prices must be reviewed, including the radio and television licences,” he said.
The Minister said following consultations with the ZBC, a Statutory Instrument would be issued setting the new fee structure and exemptions, especially for senior citizens.
Dr Muswere added that following the Cabinet decision for the reduction of the various Government levies and fees, the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion was already seized with the matter.
“The Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion is now in the middle of looking into it. The decision was taken yesterday (Tuesday), but I believe that the decision is not going to take more than six months.
“I expect this job of reviewing licences to be done immediately because the decision has already been made to make sure that all the pricing of licences has been reduced so that all businesses and all the beneficiaries of this country can be served and to also ensure that the ease of doing business can be done properly. All these reviews are not going to take more than six months,” he said.
The business sector has long complained that the multiplicity of levies, fees, licences and permits charged by various Government Ministries, Agents and Departments increased the cost of doing business, making the country uncompetitive to investors.
The 12 sectors that are targeted for review are health, tourism, agriculture, retail, transport, energy, manufacturing, telecommunications, broadcasting, financial services, construction and liquor.
Online Reporter