Online Reporter
Farirai Machivenyika-Senior Reporter
Debate on the Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill continued yesterday at the committee stage in the National Assembly where Members of Parliament scrutinise the Bill clause by clause.
During the debate, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere rejected proposals by Dzivaresekwa legislator Mr Edwin Mushoriwa for amendments to Clause 8 of the Bill to include local authorities on the free airtime allocated to Government.
“I propose that on section C of the Clause to include local authorities as a second tier of Government so that they are also allocated airtime to explain their policies,” he said.
However, Dr Muswere said there was no need to separate Government into tiers.
“Government is Government there is no need to say second tier, or third tier of Government,” he said.
According to provisions of the Clause 8, broadcasters should provide Government an hour cumulatively within a week to explain its programmes and policies.
Dr Muswere also rejected proposals to extend the length of commercial radio and television licences from 10 years to 20 years.
“We have done studies and they have shown that 10 years is enough to recoup their investments.
“Even the stations we have are doing well, Capitalk is doing well, ZiFM is doing well and Star FM is doing well.
“Tomorrow (today) I will be officiating at the third anniversary of 3K TV,” Dr Muswere said.
The Minister also defended the provision allowing transferability of licences saying broadcasting was a business just like any other business and licence holders should be allowed to sell their licences in the event of facing financial difficulties.
