VOP FM appeals against BAZ decision

The company known as VOP FM, was part of the firms that lost the bid to operate commercial radio stations when Zimpapers and AB Radio were granted licences last year.
VOP is seeking to quash the BAZ order and to have the matter remitted to the board for re-determination in terms of the Broadcasting Services Act.
It becomes the second firm to challenge denial of licence after Oliver Mtukudzi’s Kiss FM.
Through the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, Vox Media last week filed an appeal at the Administrative Court.
The BAZ board on November 24 awarded licences to Talk Radio owned by Zimpapers and AB Communications run by Supa Mandiwanzira.
The BAZ board ruled that VOX Media, the proprietors of Radio VOP and other applicants such as Kiss FM had failed to impress during public hearings held to consider licensing them.
In the filed notice of appeal, the company accused the board of breaching the rules of natural justice by not disclosing the scoring process and criterion employed in evaluating VOP.
VOP cited gross irregularity in the manner the process was conducted, saying the board was supposed to give reasons for the denial of the licence to the firm.
The company also contends that BAZ acted irrationally by granting a licence to Talk Radio, a company in which the Government has a stake, hence promoting State monopoly.
VOP is also challenging the decision on the basis that BAZ attached “undue” relevance to the fact that there is difference in the names of the current trustees and those on the trust deed.
VOX Media is the second aspiring broadcaster to haul the BAZ to court after Kiss FM, which was also denied a broadcasting licence, appealed to the Administrative Court to nullify the decision of the broadcasting authority.