Online Reporter
Nyore Madzianike, Harare Bureau
GOVERNMENT has set aside US$10 million for local content creation as part of a major drive to expand television and radio services under the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, in line with the transition to heritage-based broadcasting.
The funding, which forms part of ZBC’s 2026 budget, is expected to anchor the rollout of new television and radio channels, while stimulating growth in the country’s creative industry.
Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere, revealed the funding package while officiating at a ZBC stakeholder engagement workshop in Harare yesterday.
He said the existence of enabling legislative and policy frameworks now places responsibility on producers to build a sustainable media industry grounded in ethics, national values and authentic Zimbabwean content.
“The National Arts Council has a database of 3 500 registered players and it is now upon the National Arts Council, independent producers and many other players to generate content that we can all be proud of,” said Dr Muswere.
“We all know how broadcasting operates — viewership follows content.
“For the public broadcaster to succeed and to build a viable film industry, the basis is the capacitation of the public broadcaster. I can safely explain to all of you, as delegates here today, that part of the public broadcaster’s budget for the year 2026 is an equivalent of US$10 million for content producers.”
He said it was unacceptable for Zimbabweans to continue paying for a public broadcaster without local filmmakers, musicians and producers benefitting from those resources.
“It is now upon all filmmakers and producers of content to entertain, educate and inform the people of Zimbabwe and the international community about what Zimbabwe has achieved as we journey towards an upper-middle-income society,” Dr Muswere said.
He said the workshop was meant to generate ideas that would feed into a national framework for content creators within the broadcasting ecosystem.
Dr Muswere added that the Government plans to hold pre-budget seminars aimed at establishing content hubs in all 10 provinces for use by filmmakers, musicians and other players in the creative sector.
A Film Policy is also in the pipeline, alongside a National Language Policy expected to be tabled before Cabinet in the first quarter of this year.
Dr Muswere said amendments to the Broadcasting Services Act were designed to ensure that broadcast content speaks to the nation’s history, contemporary issues and future within the region and the continent.
Although ZBC previously faced challenges, including limited resources to pay for content, Dr Muswere said legislative and policy reforms implemented last year under the direction of President Mnangagwa had unlocked funding.
“I can safely conclude that ZBC now has the resources. What we need is the content,” he said.
“The whole framework is to launch ZBCTV2 and ZBCTV3.
“An expansion in terms of community radio stations, which now number more than 14 and are fully functional and actively contributing content in terms of heritage-based broadcasting.
“But for us to be able to launch ZBC International — our 24-hour news channel — for us to be able to launch ZBCTV2 and TV3, television or radio services require content.
“This content is to come from you; from all the filmmakers, musicians, and all the players within the broadcasting ecosystem.”
Dr Muswere challenged content creators to tell the Zimbabwean story and reflect national aspirations, including documenting achievements recorded under the Second Republic across various sectors.
Acting ZBC board chairperson Mr Tapson Dzvetero reaffirmed the broadcaster’s commitment to working closely with content creators.
“The board and management are committed to supporting the outcomes of this process and to ensuring that your contributions translate into tangible change,” he said.
“We are ready to listen, to learn and to act.
“I, therefore, encourage you to engage freely and honestly . . . challenge us where necessary, inspire us where possible.”
ZBC chief executive Mr Sugar Chagonda said the broadcaster was open to working with all producers and creatives.
“We want to hear you, we want to work with you, and we want to grow with you,” he said.
“Your support creates an enabling environment for innovation, accountability and national impact.”
