immense opportunity to open up more space for television channels. In that vein, Mangwana said Zimbabwe expected to have 24 more television channels. It is important to note that these 24 channels will not automatically translate to the licensing of 24 different broadcasting players running a channel each. Indeed, Mangwana stated that the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation would control a “chunk” of the stations that would be availed through the ongoing digitisation process. If the 2013 licensing of regional commercial radio stations is anything to go by, then future broadcasting licences will most likely continue to be issued to State owned enterprises such as the ZBC and Zimpapers, or entities owned by individuals with ties to government and in some instances, direct connections to the ruling party. Restrictions on the amount of foreign ownership and investment into the broadcasting sector, also limit the ability of private players to raise the hefty capital injection needed to launch and sustain a viable broadcasting venture. Currently, the Broadcasting Services Act prohibits the licensing of any broadcaster that uses equipment bought through foreign contributions or equipment donated wholly or in part by a foreign entity. Furthermore, foreigners can only hold up to 20% ownership in local broadcasting enterprises. Mangwana, however, revealed that government is considering increasing this to 49% ownership. This remains to be seen. According to Mangwana, the then absence of a BAZ Board held up the drafting of policies needed to initiate digital broadcasting in the country. Research carried out as part of MISA Zimbabwe’s DTT Report, reveals that the digital migration process is complete in Harare and Bulawayo. However, there is need for policies to set out the distribution and pricing of the Set Top Boxes (STBs) or decoders those consumers would need to receive digital transmission in their homes. Such policies should by law, come from the BAZ Board. However, Mangwana revealed that his Ministry was drafting policies on behalf of the then absent Board. He mentioned that once the Board was appointed, his ministry would hand over the draft Regulations for the Board to finalise. 21