1. INTRODUCTION
This report presents key highlights and a summary of submissions
made by organisations and members of the public during the
parliamentary public hearings on the Broadcasting Services
Amendment Bill H.B 9 of 2024, hereinafter referred to as the
Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill. The public hearings,
convened in accordance with Section 141 of the Constitution of
Zimbabwe, were held nationwide from December 16 to 21, 2024,
under the auspices of the Parliament of Zimbabwe, Portfolio
Committee on Information, Media and Broadcasting Services.
The Bill was gazetted on 22 November 2024 to align the law with
the Constitution and the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act
[Chapter 10:31]. Furthermore, the amendments aim to modernise
outdated provisions in response to technological advances.
Media freedom advocacy group, the Media Institute of Southern
Africa (MISA Zimbabwe) and its partners in a network of journalistic
professional associations and media support organisations, the
Media Alliance of Zimbabwe (MAZ) participated in all seven (7)
public hearings conducted throughout the country to shadow this
public process and compile this report to enhance further policy
discussions and parliamentary debates on the law.
Among the key issues that dominated the submissions by participants
in these public hearings was Clause 15 of the amendment, which
introduces a new provision amending Section 38 B of the principal
Act to prohibit the sale of motor insurance cover to individuals
who do not possess Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC)
radio licences. A significant majority of participants in the public

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