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.

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