Cabinet considered and adopted the Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill, which was presented by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs as Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Legislation.
The major objective of the Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill is to align the Broadcasting Services Act [Chapter 12:06] with the Constitution and also with the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act. The amendment will also modernize the Act, and industrialise the sector.
The enactment of the legislation will amend several sections of the Broadcasting Services Act [Chapter 12:06]. Of special mention is the amendment of section 2A of the principal Act on the role of the Broadcasting Services of Zimbabwe which is to regulate and manage the broadcasting services bands for sustenance rather than control of broadcasting service bands.
The Bill will also provide a new provision which will prohibit the Zimbabwe National Road Authority and every motor insurance cover to sell a motor vehicle licence and motor insurance policy respectively to individuals without the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation current radio licence or an exemption certificate from the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, unless the vehicle to be insured is not equipped with a radio signal receiver.
The Bill mandates the National Broadcaster to broadcast 75% in local content. Furthermore, the Bill will provide for a licencee with a sports channel to broadcast 50% local sports content in view of the fact that sporting events are universal and international sports may bring commercial value to licencees.
