Matabeleland South proportional representation legislator Sibongile Maphosa has compared the proposed law requiring motorists to pay for radio licences when renewing their car licences to being infected with HIV.
The Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill was recently passed by the National Assembly, with some opposition legislators expressing opposition to the proposed law.
During the debate on the Bill, Maphosa pointed out that in December, 800,000 people paid for their car licences to the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (ZINARA), but only 400,000 paid for radio licences. She said:
<blockquote>
What we are trying to do here is infecting this ZBC pandemic to ZINARA. When we enact this law, what will happen Madam Chair is that ZINARA already has third party insurances which we see as useless because they indicate that when you have an accident, you fix your own car and when you have an accident with someone and you are at fault, that is when the insurance pays.
This is what has affected ZINARA and has brought apathy to ZINARA where you find people not being forthcoming in terms of paying for insurances because it is difficult for  them to pay for insurances. So, they end up exempting their cars. 
If it was not for this insurance challenge, in December, we might have had more than a million people paying. 
Now, with the burden of ZBC riding on the insurance and on top of ZINARA fees, it means ZINARA has twins like ZBC and the insurance. It is like being infected by HIV. Taking ZBC is like taking ZBC’s illness and infecting ZINARA.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://insiderzim.com/tying-zbc-licence-to-car-licence-is-like-being-infected-with-hiv-mp-says/">Insider</a>

Pindula News

A lawmaker compared a new law about paying for radio licenses with renewing vehicle licenses to being infected with HIV. The law was passed but some lawmakers disagree. The lawmaker said that the law would burden people who already struggle to pay for insurance for their cars. She said that people might stop paying for insurance and wouldn't renew their licenses. She compared it to having twins, being like being infected with a serious illness. It's a big problem for people needing to pay more fees.

MP Compares Tying ZBC Licence To Vehicle Licence To Being Infected With HIV

Kadoma Central Member of Parliament, Gift Mambipiri (CCC), has argued that the US$30 fee for a car radio licence per term is excessive, likening it to buying a goat and donating it to the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) every term.
During the debate on the Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill, which proposes making it mandatory for motorists to purchase a radio licence when renewing their vehicle licence, Mambipiri said:
<blockquote>
As Zimbabweans, indeed we need to support ZBC as a national broadcaster but this approach is what they do not agree with.
What is prohibiting people is the pricing of the radio and television licences. When that is combined with ZINARA licence, it means that this will be beyond the reach of many people.
People were saying that US$30 for every term for a ZBC licence is just too much. It is like buying a goat, which means per term they will be buying a goat or they will be donating a goat to ZBC.
In urban areas, this amount is equivalent to primary school fees. So, parents are saying the money is as high as the money they are paying for school fees in primary schools.
</blockquote>
Mambipiri proposed reducing the fee from the proposed US$30 per term to US$5, making it more affordable for the majority of Zimbabweans. He said:
<blockquote>
People are not refusing to support ZBC but they do not agree with Clause 15. I would like to urge the Hon. Minister not just to focus on motorists and drivers.
The money that is required to support ZBC should be taken according to what is already happening, which is legal and every household with a radio and television set should pay every year. The money should be reviewed downwards from US$30 to US$5 per household.
When you look at the television sets that are in the country that are around one million multiplied by US$5, you would find that ZBC will raise US$5 million dollars per year.”
</blockquote>
Several Members of Parliament suggested reducing the radio licence fee to US$5, while one proposed lowering it to US$2 per term.
More: <a href="https://insiderzim.com/paying-us30-for-a-car-radio-licence-is-like-donating-a-goat-to-the-zbc-every-term-says-mp/">Insider</a>

A Member of Parliament in Zimbabwe thinks paying US$30 for a car radio licence is too much. He says it's like buying a goat and giving it to the broadcasting company every term. He suggests reducing the fee to US$5 to make it more affordable for people. Other MPs also agree, with some even proposing a fee as low as US$2. They believe that the current fee is too high and many people won't be able to pay it along with other bills. They want to find a way to support the broadcasting company without burdening the citizens too much.

US$30 Radio Licence Fee Is "Too Much", Says CCC MP

Wisdom Samanyai, the head of licensing at Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), said there was nothing wrong with the proposed changes to the Broadcasting Services Act, reported <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/nothing-amiss-in-compulsory-car-radio-licences/">The Herald</a>.
These changes would require motorists to buy car radio licences before they can purchase vehicle insurance and registration. 
He explained that the amendments aim to strengthen the enforcement of the law.
Samanyai said this in a presentation at a joint meeting of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committees on Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, and Transport and Infrastructural Development on Monday, February 3.
The meeting was held to discuss the changes to Clause 15 of the Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill, which is currently being debated in the National Assembly.
The new rule would require motorists to buy car radio licences before they can obtain vehicle insurance and registration.
The money will be collected by the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA). Said Samanyai:
<blockquote>
So, we have a good number that would avoid and say they are removing the radio altogether. I don’t want to be found wanting, but there are also those who just choose to say we are evading, probably consciously or subconsciously.
They will just decide they are not going to comply with this very same Act, which then pushed us to then find a way. First and foremost, we wanted to help our agencies to enforce this legal requirement.
Hence, we had to be explicit in as far as this Bill is concerned, to say nobody is allowed to either go on to purchase their insurance or road licence before first complying with the Broadcasting Services Act requirement, which is making sure that your radio licence is paid for.
</blockquote>
ZINARA CEO Nkosinathi Ncube said that his organisation is prepared to implement the law once it is enacted. He said:
<blockquote>
We need to underline that we support Government decisions, parliamentary decisions, and the progress that it brings to the nation. So, we’re always there to support.
And as Government agents, we make sure that we fully implement that which the Government will then put through and which is good for the country.
</blockquote>
Ncube emphasized the need to ensure that, once passed, the new requirement would not interfere with ZINARA’s mandate to collect funds for road construction and maintenance.
He also revealed that 70 per cent of vehicles on the country’s roads, or just over 800,000 cars, are compliant with license and insurance payments.

The head of ZBC said it's okay to need a car radio license before getting insurance and registration. This rule will help enforce the law. The ZINARA will collect the money. ZINARA's CEO agreed to implement this law. They want to support the government's decisions to improve the country. They will make sure this new rule doesn't affect their work of collecting money for roads. Most cars in Zimbabwe already follow the rules by paying for licenses and insurance.

ZBC Head Defends Proposal For Car Radio Licences Before Vehicle Registration

The Member of Parliament for Marondera Central, Caston Matewu (CCC), said that the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) should take over radio and television licensing from the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC).
As reported by <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200026590/baz-should-collect-licence-fees">NewsDay</a>, Matewu said this while responding to a question during the belated World Press Freedom Day celebrations organised by the Zimbabwe Association of Community Radio Stations in Harare on Monday, 06 May.
Matewu, who is the chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, also said the issue will be tabled before Parliament for debate. He said:
<blockquote>
I never believed that ZBC should be collecting these license [fee]s. It should be BAZ which collects the licence [fee]s on behalf of the State.
So this is a conversation that is going to be happening and once the Bill comes to Parliament we are going to begin this debate.
We are going to call you as well as other stakeholders to come and give us your views and share them with us.
So we are collecting a number of stakeholders to come to Parliament so that you can give us your views on what you think.
</blockquote>
The Cabinet recently approved amendments to the Broadcasting Services Act which will compel motorists to buy radio licences from ZBC whenever they renew their vehicle licences.
If the amendments are passed by Parliament, it will become mandatory for motorists to first pay for a radio licence before acquiring vehicle insurance cover or policy unless there is an exemption from the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC).
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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