The government has plans already in motion to make it illegal for ZINARA and insurance companies to sell licenses and motor insurance policies to motorists without ZBC radio licenses.
This was revealed by the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Jenfan Muswere, during a Post-Cabinet Media briefing in Harare yesterday. He informed the public that considered and adopted the Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill, after Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, also the Chairperson of the Cabinet Committee on Legislation, presented it.
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ZINARA And Insurance Covers To Be Prohibited From Selling Licenses And Policies To Motorists Without ZBC Radio Licenses
Muswere said:
“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 Administration (ZINARA) and every motor insurance cover to sell a motor vehicle licence and motor insurance policy respectively to individuals without the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) 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.”
US$73 Million To Be Raised Annually From The National Broadcaster
To enforce this new provision, ZBC will conduct inspections on the road to ensure motorists comply if this new bill is passed into law. The broadcaster has to make money from licenses, Minister Muswere responded to questions about the Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill.
In May, Muswere said the Government plans for ZBC to raise US$73 million yearly from licenses. A private car radio license costs US$23 as of September 2024.
As of 30 June 2023, there were 1,583,700 vehicles in the country, according to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency.
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