Harare, (New Ziana) – The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) has improved radio and television licence fee collection levels from a paltry two percent in 2018 to between 20 and 22 percent now, Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services permanent secretary, Nick Mangwana told Parliament on Monday.

Appearing before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, he said ZBC licence fees currently stood at 22 percent.

“In 2018 the rate of compliance was two percent and after various initiatives by the Corporation, I am advised that its now between 20-22 percent so there is scope for them to improve the collection rate and be self-sufficient from licence fees alone,” he said.

Mangwana said ZBC was working to further improve on the collection of licence fees by roping in other state agencies like ZINARA, ZESA and local authorities as co-operating partners.

The committee also heard that the country’s largest media group, Zimpapers Limited has engaged the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe as part of efforts to address the availability of foreign currency for its operations.

This was said by Zimpapers board member, George Chisoko when he appeared before the Committee. “Part of the challenges we have been facing as a board is the availability of foreign currency,” he said.

“We have given the executive a task to come up with ways of how they intend to raise the money. Two weeks ago we had a meeting with the new RBZ Governor, Dr John Mushayavanhu on how they can assist us in raising the foreign currency we require.”

Chisoko said the Zimpapers foreign currency shortages were compounded by the fact that it was also owed money by various Ministries and other Government agencies.

“The biggest challenge is that Government owes money to Zimpapers, so our request to you (the Committee) is for you to engage Government so that they pay what they owe to Zimpapers,” he said.

Mangwana confirmed that Zimpapers was owed ZWL$1 billion by Government before the country switched from ZWL to the ZiG currency. Committee chairperson, Marondera Central MP Caston Matewu, however said the legislators were impressed by Zimpapers’ operations during their recent tour of its premises.

“We were impressed by what we saw at Zimpapers during our tour of the premises. They told us they do pay dividends and that they were not in the red,” he said.

New Ziana