Story by Wellington Makonese
The government has called on Zimbabweans to comply with the country’s media licence fee regulations to ensure quality programming at the national broadcaster, ZBC.
This comes as ZBC and its partners launched a blitz to ensure compliance among motorists.
The Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Honourable Kindness Paradza stressed the importance of compliance for the national broadcaster to produce quality content.
“We have come to assist the national broadcaster in raising awareness on paying licences, which is constitutional. The people need information and workers who provide that have to be paid. We have a culture where compliance has been an issue, but that is the only way we can get quality programming,” he noted.
Although compliance is generally low at around 40 per cent, ZBC has established new enterprises.
“In the past compliance has been an issue which has resulted in problems. The only way we can have quality programmes is through revenue mainly from licences,” highlighted ZBC chief executive officer, Ms Adelaide Chikunguru.
“On the other hand, we have been doing a lot despite low licencing. We have 3 new channels, Jive TV, and Zim24 which is a good sign if get more, we can do more. Independent producers need to be paid and that can happen if people pay,” she added.
ZBC board chair Dr Josiah Tayi cemented the remarks by saying, “We encourage the people to pay to retain critical staff going for greener pastures. People pay, we pay our staff, we produce good content.”
The national broadcaster has the obligation to entertain, educate and inform, hence the need for consistent funding.
ZBC is currently producing 60 per cent of its content, while close to 40 per cent comes from independent producers.
