By Kuda Pembere
THE Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Media, Information and Broadcasting Services has called on the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) to reduce the Community radio station licence fees by October 2022 which are expensive compared to Kenya.
According to the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe, community radio stations are to pay an application fee of USD500 which is non refundable, a basic licence fee of USD1000 per year renewable after a decade and a monthly frequency fee of USD30 per year.
This recommendation from legislators comes following their tour in Kenya to learn about the legislation and operationalisation of community radio stations.
“That the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe should lower the fees for licenses to ease the financial burden for applicants in community broadcasting by October 2022;” read the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Media, Information and Broadcasting Services’ report.
In Kenya, a community free to air radio would be charged Kshs 1,000 (USD 8.41) application fee, Kshs 15,000 (USD126.18) mandatory initial license fee and Kshs 15,000 (USD126.18) annual license fee.
The Committee also suggested the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services should review the Broadcasting Services Act to include a provision that outlines the legal parameters for source of funding of Community Radio Stations by December 2022.
The Committee also recommended that Government should through the Broadcasting fund, the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services provide financial and technical support to Community Radio Stations by September 2022.
“That the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services should review the Broadcasting Services Act to include a provision that outlines the legal parameters for source of funding of Community Radio Stations by December 2022;
“That the BAZ should consider the community of interests of the persons applying for thelicence when licensing Community Radio Stations by October 2022,” added the Committee.
The Committee also wants the Information ministry to come up with lqws that dissuades broadcasting of hate speech by year end.
