BSA Bill sails through Senate

Source: The Herald – Breaking news.

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 Responding to issues raised by Senators during the Committee stage of the Bill, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere, said the Bill is meant to revamp the broadcasting sector, including improving revenue generation for the national broadcaster, ZBC.

Farirai Machivenyika-Senior Reporter

THE Senate has passed the Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill, with the prospective law now awaiting transmission to President Mnangagwa for assent.

The Bill was passed without amendments yesterday.

Responding to issues raised by Senators during the Committee stage of the Bill, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere, said the Bill is meant to revamp the broadcasting sector, including improving revenue generation for the national broadcaster, ZBC.

He said the law has always required motorists to obtain licences for car radios adding that provisions in the Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill that make it mandatory for them to obtain listeners’ licenses first before buying their vehicle licences were meant to enhance compliance.

“In terms of Section 38 of the current Broadcasting Services Act, it is already mandatory for motor vehicle owners to pay for radio licenses,” Dr Muswere said.

According to the current Act, he said, no listener shall have in his possession a receiver without a requisite license.

The Minister added that the Constitutional Court had also ruled that ZBC licenses were compulsory in a case brought by former Harare West legislator, Ms Jessie Majome and others.

Dr Muswere said it was also important that ZBC as a public broadcaster be funded adequately to fulfil its obligations to inform, educate and entertain the public.

“Over the years, due to the financial challenges at ZBC and the cost of lack of compliance, the national broadcaster did not have capacity to be able to expand their services and also to pay for the content. And I believe this is a very noble clause because it’s already well taken care of in terms of the existing legislation, which is Section 38,” he said.

Dr Muswere said there were ongoing discussions between his Ministry, ZBC and the Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services on the review of licenses to ensure they are affordable to the public.

Following its passage yesterday, the Bill will be brought before the Parliamentary Legal Committee for review on its constitutionality before it is transmitted to President Mnangagwa for his signature.