By Staff Reporter
The Broadcasting Services Amendment Act (No. 2 of 2025) has officially been gazetted following its approval by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The announcement was made by the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Martin Rushwaya, through General Notice 1034 of 2025, published in the Government Gazette on 23 May 2025. Said Rushwaya:
THE following law, which was assented to by His Excellency the President, is published in terms of section 131(6)(a) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe—
Broadcasting Services Amendment Act (No. 2 of 2025).
One of the new amendments prohibits the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) and all motor insurance companies from selling motor insurance to individuals who do not have a valid ZBC radio licence—unless they have an exemption certificate from the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), or the vehicle being insured does not have a radio receiver.
The Bill seeks to align the oversight role of the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) with the national Constitution, the Public Entities and Corporate Governance Act [Chapter 10:31], and internationally recognised best practices.
The Broadcasting Services Amendment Act (No. 2 of 2025) introduces several key changes to the existing broadcasting legislation, with a focus on streamlining governance, promoting inclusivity, and supporting community broadcasting.
One of the major changes is the amendment to Section 4(2), which reduces the number of board members of the Broadcasting Authority from twelve to seven. The amendment also introduces a requirement for gender balance within the board, promoting diversity in leadership.
Section 7(2) has also been revised to redefine the classes of broadcasting services that may be licensed. The updated classifications now include commercial, community, and subscription broadcasting services, among others, providing a more modern and flexible licensing framework.
In Section 10, the Authority is now required to publish a public call for licence applications once a year, subject to available frequency spectrum, through the Government Gazette and a national newspaper. All shortlisted applicants for spectrum-based broadcasting licences must participate in a public inquiry to assess their suitability. However, community radio services are exempt from this requirement.
Amendments to Section 11 introduce measures to promote language diversity and inclusivity. Licensees must now broadcast in all languages spoken in their service areas, supporting the use of constitutionally recognised languages. Furthermore, all broadcasters are required to allocate at least 10% of their content in formats accessible to people with hearing impairments. Another provision under Section 11(5) mandates that all domestic broadcasters must make one hour per week available, free of charge, to the Government for communicating its policies to the public.
Section 30, which deals with the objectives of the broadcasting fund, has been amended to explicitly support the establishment and sustainability of community broadcasting services. This is a significant development, considering the limited revenue-generation options currently available to community radio stations.
A notable amendment to Section 38 prohibits ZINARA and all motor insurance companies from selling insurance to individuals who do not hold a valid ZBC radio licence, unless they have a ZBC exemption certificate or the vehicle being insured does not have a radio receiver.
The Broadcasting Services Amendment Act (No. 2 of 2025) also introduces several changes to the governance framework of the Broadcasting Authority, aligning it more closely with the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act.
The Third Schedule has been amended to reflect these changes. Notably, the terms of office for board members have been reduced from five to four years, and any board vacancies must now be filled within three months instead of six. These adjustments aim to improve governance efficiency and ensure smoother continuity within the Authority.
Amendments to the Fourth Schedule now make the appointment of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and other staff subject to sections 17 to 21 and section 23 of the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act. This includes limiting the CEO to two fixed-term, performance-based contracts, requiring all senior staff to sign performance contracts, and mandating that vacancies be advertised publicly in newspapers. Appointments must be based on merit, while also considering gender and regional balance. Vacant CEO positions must be filled within six months. The amendments also require declarations of assets and disclosure of conflicts of interest by senior staff, and align staff conditions of service with model standards under the Public Entities Act, including restrictions on pay and terminal benefits.
The Fifth Schedule has also been revised. It now requires all licensees to ensure that members of the communities they serve are involved in selecting programmes, participating in operations, and being represented on the broadcaster’s governing body. This measure strengthens community engagement and accountability in broadcasting.
The Sixth Schedule introduces a cultural policy requirement for television broadcasters running a sports channel. They must ensure that at least 50% of their programming is made up of local or African content. The goal is to promote local identity, support regional content creators, and contribute to the growth of the local sports industry.
