New Bill reviews foreign ownership of media licences

Zvamaida Murwira, Senior Reporter

The Government has gazetted the Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill that will, among other things, rationalise foreign ownership of a broadcasting licence up to 40 percent to allow growth and investment in the sector.

The Bill, which was gazetted last Friday, will align the Broadcasting Services Act with the Constitution and also with the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act.

Clause Six amends the principal Act, which provides that licences must be issued to persons who are Zimbabweans subject to exemption by the Minister.

“The amendment seeks to allow foreign control in a broadcasting licence up to 40 percent as a measure of encouraging the development of this sector considering that it is a high capital venture and ensure that Zimbabweans remain in control of broadcasting services.

“The amendment will mean that the Minister will no longer be required to approve the licencing of any person. The amendment also seeks to repeal the requirement for directors of licencees to be Zimbabwean citizens and places a limitation of 40 percent of the directors to be foreigners. Amendments to section 8(3) will allow any person other than a natural person to apply for licences such as community radios,” reads the Bill.

Clause Three of the Bill provides that the role of the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) is to regulate and manage the broadcasting service bands for sustenance rather than control broadcasting service bands. The amendment will allow licences that make use of the broadcasting frequency spectrum to be applied for once a year.

Meanwhile, President Mnangagwa has assented to the Administration of Estates Amendment Act which sailed through Parliament recently.

The assent by the President was announced by Chief Secretary to the Office of the President and Cabinet, Dr Martin Rushwaya, in a Government Gazette published last Friday.

The law will rationalise the powers of the Master of High Court to ensure that the office does not willy-nilly dispose or sell the property of a deceased estate without the permission of a judge of the High Court.

The Master should also not unilaterally appoint or remove an executor of an estate.