Story by Oleen Ndori
THE Government has adopted the Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill which is meant to modernise the legal framework and industrialise the sector, while also addressing the issue of motor vehicle radio licences.
This was revealed in a post-cabinet media briefing in Harare this Tuesday.
The proposed Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill will among other issues address vehicle radio licences, the oversight role of the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) to align it with the Constitution and the Public Entities and Corporate Governance Act, while modernising and industrialising the sector.
“Cabinet considered and adopted the Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill, which was presented by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Honourable Ziyambi Ziyambi.
“One of the major objectives of the Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill is to align the Broadcasting Services Act Chapter 44:06 with the Constitution of Zimbabwe and also the Public Entities and Corporate Governance Act. The amendment will modernise and also industrialise the sector.
“The enactment of the legislation will amend several sections of the Broadcasting Services Act. Of special mention is the amendment of Section 2A of the Principal Act on the role of the Broadcasting Services of Zimbabwe, which is to regulate and manage the Broadcasting Services plans for sustenance rather than for control of Broadcasting Services plans.
“The Bill will also provide a new provision which will prohibit the Zimbabwe National Road Authority and every motor insurance cover to sell a motor vehicle licence and motor insurance policy respectively to individuals without the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation
current radio license or an exemption certificate from the Zimbabwe
Broadcasting Corporation, unless the vehicle to be insured is not equipped
with a radio signal receiver.
“The Bill mandates the national broadcaster to broadcast 75% of the content as local content. Furthermore, the Bill will provide for a licensee with a sports channel to broadcast 50% of local sports content in view of the fact that sporting events are universal and international sports may bring commercial value to licencees,” said the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere.
With the National Development Strategy One ending in 2025, the government is also in the process of drafting the NDS2 that will run from 2026 to 2030.
“Cabinet considered and approved the road map for the formulation of the National Development Strategy 2, which will run from 2026 to 2030 on NDS 2, as presented by the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, Honourable Professor Mthuli Ncube.
“The development comes at a time when the National Development Strategy 1 2021-2025 is coming to an end in December 2025, with notable achievements in the areas of fiscal consolidation, monetary policy restoration, the liberalisation of foreign exchange markets, structural and governance reforms, infrastructural development, engagement and re-engagement, investment, promotion and support to the productive sectors were recorded under NDS 1.
“NDS 2 will be the country’s second five-year medium-term plan towards the realisation of the country’s Vision 2030. It will contain strategies and interventions which will ensure sustainable, inclusive growth and development, innovation for modernisation and industrialisation, adaption to climate change, eradicating poverty, and promoting sustainable livelihoods of the vulnerable members of the society.
“The process of coming up with the NDS 2 blueprint is set to take 18 months and is scheduled to be completed in November 2025,” said Dr Muswere.
The Minister also briefed the nation on the mop-up registration exercise for war collaborators and non-combatants.
“Cabinet considered and approved the memorandum on the Mop-Up
Exercise for War Collaborators and Non-Combatant Cadres as
presented by the Minister of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle,
Honourable Senator Monica Mavhunga.
“The exercise represents the last major phase of a comprehensive verification effort to ensure all legitimate veterans are accurately recognised and appropriately honoured for their contribution to the nation’s independence. A total of ZiG 47.2 million has already been availed to the Ministry for the exercise.”
This week’s cabinet also discussed the second phase of grain distribution across the country and the progress in the rehabilitation of the National Sports Stadium.
