Policymakers, consumers, private companies, civil society organisations and the regulator should
have meaningful, truthful and open conversations on this issue.
This will not only be for purposes of understanding business or human rights perspectives, or the
policy perspective, but to ensure that a clear roadmap is in place as we move forward as a nation.
Broadcasting
As the year drew to an end the government was still to gazette the proposed Broadcasting Services
Amendment Bill in place of the now out-of-sync Broadcasting Services Act of 2001.

The government should therefore accelerate the review of the Broadcasting Services Act (BSA),
an archaic law governing the broadcasting industry in Zimbabwe. The BSA is one of the two laws
that were targeted for reforms by the government together with the Access to Information and
Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA).

The Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill seeks to make changes to the existing BSA which
regulates broadcasting services in Zimbabwe.

Key issues that need to be addressed pertain to foreign ownership in the local broadcasting sector
and donations for broadcasting services. These issues need to be remedied through the proposed
Bill to avert the collapse of the broadcasting industry in Zimbabwe.

The proposed amendment Bill which was shared with stakeholders more than three years ago,
prohibits donations for broadcasting services. This prohibition refers to the donation of actual
equipment and financial donations that are at most times used to get community radio stations up
and running.

For example, this means that a church-based organisation cannot donate radio broadcasting
equipment to a local community for the purpose of setting up a religious or faith-based community
radio station within that local community.

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