malvernmugadzikwa
Sunday Mail Reporter
PUBLIC FUNDING is crucial for the national broadcaster, ZBC, whose duty is to serve the national interest, unlike private broadcasters whose major motive is to serve commercial interests, a Cabinet Minister has said.
Speaking on a current affairs programme on Star FM, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere, said national broadcasters are meant to serve the public good and not just interests of advertisers.
“They have an obligation to the people of Zimbabwe; they have an obligation to inform,” he said. They have an obligation to raise awareness and entertain the people of Zimbabwe.
“So, the licensing framework is totally different amongst these licensees; the responsibilities and obligations are different.”
He said the ZBC was obligated to cover national events such as parliamentary sittings and State funerals.
“For example, the ZBC covers parliamentary debates in order to inform the people of Zimbabwe about the legislative issues that are taking place in the Parliament of Zimbabwe.
“They are obligated to cover parliamentary proceedings, but a commercial radio or television licensee or institution has a choice to cover or not to cover.
“ZBC has a responsibility to raise awareness, while a community radio station might not have the same responsibility.”
He said private broadcasters are not obligated to cover State functions.
“The burial of a national hero . . . ZBC should be able to cover such issues.”
He said Section 38 (b) of the Broadcasting Services Act requires everyone with a radio or television receiver to pay a licence fee to the national broadcaster.
It reads : “No listener shall have in his possession in Zimbabwe a receiver otherwise than in accordance with the terms and conditions of a licence issued by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation or by agents of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation appointed by it in terms of subsection (a1) of Section 38 (d).”
The Government has proposed amendments to the Broadcasting Services Act to compel those renewing their motor vehicle licences to first pay up their radio licence fees to ZBC.
Online Reporter