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    Bulawayo adds voice to concerns over proposed targeting of motorists

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    Bulawayo, (New Ziana)-There was heated debate during a public hearing on the Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill in Bulawayo recently over the clause which seeks to make it mandatory for motorists to first purchase a radio license before obtaining a vehicle license attracted controversy in Bulawayo recently with some residents querying the rationale of targeting to benefit the national broadcaster alone and leaving out other industry players.

    These residents proposed that the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) should collect radio and television licensing fees for accountability purposes, and equitably distribute the funds among all broadcasters in the country.

    Appearing before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Media, Information and Broadcasting Services early this week, Takudza Nyakanyanga from Y Star FM Broadcasting Initiative suggested that 30 percent of the collected fees should be allocated to a Content Creation Fund which the National Arts Council (NAC) would manage, while the remainder should go to a Broadcasting Fund run by BAZ, rather than the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.

    “ZBC should not collect funds but should be allocated its percentage under the Broadcasting Fund along with other players in the sector,” he said.

    A representative of Girls Table, a community news organisation, Paida Moyo added that targeting motorists is unfair since many imported vehicles lack receivers for ZBC radio.

    “There is a need to reconsider that section because it’s totally unfair to force motorists to pay licenses for services they do not access,” she said.

    Moyo said for transparency, BAZ should collect fees on behalf of all broadcasting players and distribute them equally, the same way that the Zimbabwe National Road Administration does with road authorities.

    A local resident, Costa Nkomo, pointed out that radio services can be accessed by anyone with a mobile phone, regardless of whether one is a motorist or not.

    “What justification is there for saying only motorists must pay ZBC licenses before acquiring Zinara? This clause must be revisited seriously,” he argued, adding with the advent of digitalisation, the national broadcaster should restrict access to its services for non-subscribers.

    Other speakers expressed concern that funding ZBC alone could lead to a brain drain from other emerging media players, as journalists may flock to the national broadcaster.

    New Ziana

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