Analysis of the Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill zimbabwe.misa.org maximum of 40%. The amendments to Section 8 will enable entities other than natural persons to apply for licenses, thereby paving the way for issuing community radio licenses. Amendment of Section 11 (4) Other than for broadcasting services emanating from outside the country, not less than ten per centum (10%) of the total programming content broadcast by any licensee shall be— (a) in any of the officially recognised languages of Zimbabwe other than Shona and Ndebele. (b) in the case of a television broadcasting licensee, in a manner that may be understood by audiences who have a hearing impairment. The inclusion of officially recognised languages is a positive development, as well as Section 11 (4) (b), which now requires all licensed broadcasters to air content not less than ten per cent in a manner that may be understood by audiences who have a hearing impairment. The recognition of people with disabilities (PWDs) is, therefore, progressive. Amendment of Section 11 (5) Except for broadcasting services emanating from outside the country, a licensee shall make one hour cumulatively per week of its broadcasting time available for the purpose of enabling the Government of the day, at its request or where necessary, to explain its policies to the nation. This condition may be acceptable and understandable for public broadcasters, who, by their very nature, should cover the full spectrum of Zimbabwean society, including the government. However, demanding the same from private players is tantamount to editorial interference. In addition, describing them as “government policies” does not give sufficient safeguards against government editorial intrusions. Experience has shown that partisan propaganda is often cast as government policy. The government already has several platforms through which it could make public-interest pronouncements. To avoid confusion, the amendment could have included a clear definition of “policies.” Amendment to Section 10 (1) The Authority shall, at least once every year and subject to the availability of band spectrum, publish a notice in the Gazette and in a national newspaper inviting applications from 6