Online Reporter
Debra Matabvu, Senior Zimpapers Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation radio and television licence fees have been slashed as part of an exercise aimed at reducing regulatory fees, simplifying licensing processes, and eliminating bureaucratic hurdles across all sectors of the economy.
The new approved licence fees, contained in a Statutory Instrument (SI) 203A of 2025 of Broadcasting (Listener’s Licences) (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations, 2025, No. 5, show that private vehicle radio licences have been reduced to US$84 annually from US$92, while a business vehicle radio licence is down to US$90 from US$200 per year.
In addition, rural radio licences have been slashed from US$20 to US$5, while urban home radio licences are now US$10 per annum, down from US$40. A licence that covers both television and radio has been reduced from US$100 to US$24 per year.
The initiative is part of a broad Government push to cut the cost of doing business, stimulate private sector growth, and boost competitiveness by addressing long-standing regulatory bottlenecks.
Authorities have already revised charges in sectors such as agriculture, tourism, and transport.
According to the latest SI, the new licence fees will be effective from 15 January 2026.
“It is hereby notified that the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services has, in terms of section 38B (2) of the Broadcasting Services Act (Chapter 12:06), made the following regulations,” the SI reads in part.
“These regulations may be cited as the Broadcasting (Listeners’ Licences) (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations, 2025 (No. 5).”
“The Broadcasting (Listeners’ Licences) Regulations 2003, published in Statutory Instrument 245 of 2003, are amended by the repeal of the second schedule and the substitution of the following: Sound-rural (US$5 per year), sound-urban (US$10 per year), sound and television (US$24 per year), sound-business premises (US$50 per year), television-business premises (US$100 per year), sound-private vehicle (US$28 per term), sound-employer owned vehicle, sound and television vehicle (US$30 per term).”
“The effective date for the fees in the section above will be from 15 January 2026. The fees stipulated in the schedule above may be payable in the local currency at the prevailing market rate.”
The reduction in licence fees was made to encourage compliance, as some people and businesses could not afford the existing ones.
In another schedule released in August by the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion of approved licences, permits, levies, and fees in the tourism sector, the Ministry said the reduction of licences will ease the cost of doing business.
“Fees were too high and thus driving the cost of doing business,” the schedule reads in part.
“The reduction will ease the cost of living for the general citizenry, which includes some sections of vulnerable and low-income groups in society.”
At the first Cabinet meeting of this year, President Mnangagwa directed the Government to expedite the elimination of excessive regulations and punitive administrative costs imposed by ministries and Government agencies.
He said taxes, licences, permits, and regulations should facilitate economic development rather than hinder progress.
Presently, the formal business operating environment is characterised by high tariffs and an intricate regulatory structure that requires businesses to comply with multiple tax and permit obligations across various agencies.
Colletta Dube