Online Reporter
Farirai Machivenyika
Senior Reporter
The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation has been challenged to improve the quality of its programmes following the signing into law by President Mnangagwa of the Broadcasting Services Amendment Act that is expected to significantly increase its revenues.
Provisions of the new law compel motorists to first hold a valid ZBC radio licence before buying motor insurance and a vehicle licence disc.
Yesterday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Mr Nick Mangwana told the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services that following the gazetting of the law, they met institutions under their purview last Friday to discuss the development.
“On Friday, we had meetings with all our institutions around the tax where we were discussing on how that (revenue) would be distributed, make it more sustainable and so forth,” he said.
“And one of the primary things that came out there is that ZBC has to speak to the people through its actions.
“The quality of their programmes has to speak to them and of course, Transmedia also has to be the carrier of the message by ensuring that every breath of the country is covered by transmission, and of course, quality programmes and the more we have content hubs, the more we have money to pay for independent productions, the better.”
Mr Mangwana added that the only way to justify the enforcement measure was for the national broadcaster to up its game through quality programming so that people can appreciate.
“So, I believe that yes, anything else that we say may be considered propaganda, because people want to be convinced by the actions of ZBC and we believe that once this money starts flowing in, and ZBC uses it appropriately, particularly to improve the quality of the content, where ZBC becomes the default station, whether it’s radio or television for anyone in Zimbabwe, then everyone would appreciate why this was necessary,” he said.
What was necessary Mr. Perm Sec? The law? Who listens to ZBC? Did you ever carry out a survey before you pushed for this law? I listen to radio stations from South Africa, not ZBC so why must I pay for a service I don’t use? Surely legislating for someone to pay for a service one doesn’t use is a violation of one’s rights. ZBC must up their game high enough to attract customers and not to rely such legislative coercion. I am actually shocked by muted and docile reaction from Zimbabweans over this law. This is an unjustifiably abuse of state power and none of our representatives in parliament ever consulted their constituences over this law. The law just doesn’t make sense.