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She argues that instead of being a public broadcaster, ZBC was being biased towards Zanu-PF and that it was not giving political parties equal coverage.
To that end, Minister Majome argues that Sections 38 (b) (2), 38(c) and 38(d) (1-4) of the Broadcasting Service Act that compels people to pay for the licences and holds defaulters liable for prosecution should be removed from the statutes because they violates the people’s rights. She argues that ZBC was not serving the national interests but interests of Zanu-PF hence viewers and listeners were being forced to be associated with Zanu-PF even if they do not like the party.
Deputy Minister Majome, who has a pending case of failing to produce a television licence to the police is also seeking permanent stay of prosecution.
She contends that non-payment of the fees should not be taken as a criminal offence.
Deputy Minister Majome, who is a senior MDC-T official and a House of Assembly candidate for Harare West, vowed not to pay the television licence.
“I believe the particular law that compels people to pay for a television and radio licence infringes my rights and has motivated this application as I will enunciate below.
“I did not produce the licence at the police station and I will not do so. This means therefore that I am in contravention of Section 356(1) (a) of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act and am liable for prosecution in terms of this particular Act.”
ZBC, the Media, Information and Publicity ministry and the Attorney General’s office who are cited as respondents are yet to respond to the application.
Online Reporter