Online Reporter
Zvamaida Murwira
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has signed into law the Broadcasting Services Amendment Act, which compels motorists to first hold a valid Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) radio licence before buying motor insurance and a vehicle licence disc.
The law is meant to provide full capacitation to the national broadcaster whose mandate is to air national events for free such as the burial of national heroes, Independence Day and Heroes Day commemorations, among others.
The promulgation of the law is part of the broader objective of the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa to have media reforms in the country, one of which was the repeal of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, which was felt had the effect of undermining media freedom, diversity and plurality.
It was replaced by the Freedom of Information Act, which many legal analysts said was more progressive and consistent with a democratic society such as Zimbabwe.
The assent of the Broadcasting Services Amendment Act by President Mnangagwa was announced by Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Dr Martin Rushwaya, in a Government Gazette published last Friday.
The law withstood the intense scrutiny of Parliament both in the National Assembly and Senate, saw debate ensuing as legislators expressed their views on it before it was passed.
After intense debate in the National Assembly, legislators supported Clause 15, which prohibits the sale of motor insurance and vehicle licence discs without a valid ZBC radio licence.
What remained for debate was the US$30 fee for radio licence, which MPs felt was high.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere, who steered the Bill together with Government Leader of the House and Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi settled the issue after advising the Chamber that the matter of how much fees should be charged was an administrative issue, which did not form part of the law.
The law seeks to modernise and streamline the broadcasting sector and align it with the Constitution and the Public Entities and Corporate Governance Act while also promoting the inclusivity of local content.
Some of the amendments that were considered include Clause Three, which seeks to amend the principal Act to provide that the role of the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) is to regulate and manage broadcasting services for sustainability rather than control broadcasting services bands.
Clause Four introduces amendments meant to reduce BAZ board members from 12 to seven and take into account gender balance.
There is also Clause Five that provides for classes of broadcasting services and systems, which may be licensed by BAZ.
The amendments were necessitated by developments in technology where the classification of broadcasting services should be independent of the platform from where the service is delivered or received.
