Source: ZBC raises US$13m, upgrades infrastructure – herald
Zvamaida Murwira
Senior Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation raised more than US$13 million in revenue from motor vehicle radio licences in the first half of last year, with the money being used to upgrade broadcasting infrastructure, enhance content and training among other uses, legislators have heard.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Zhemu Soda said the Government was prepared to make a review of car radio licences should the public feel that they were unsustainable in line with President Mnangagwa’s thrust to review permits, fees and licences across all economic sectors to ease the doing of business.
Dr Soda said this in the National Assembly on Wednesday, while responding to questions from legislators.
Emakhandeni-Luveve MP Mr Discent Bajila sought to know how much revenue had been collected from vehicle licences.
“The total revenue collected from radio licencing fees during the period is US$13,6 million, of which 20 percent was United States Dollar, while 80 percent was local currency converted at the interbank rate.
“Revenue from ZBC radio fees boosts public radio access by expanding terrestrial infrastructure through Transmedia and advancing Zim-digital Phase 2 for superior signal reach,” said Dr Soda.
“Funds also support BAZ community stations and ZIFTESA provincial content hubs. This adds an income stream to fill past revenue shortfalls caused by low compliance. The funds enable us to reach the programming, including local content production and 10 new film hubs that have been targeted and which are currently being established.”
He said the money had also been used for training and the procurement of broadcasting equipment. “The money that is collected by ZBC from licences is divided. Madam Speaker, 10 percent goes to the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ), 20 percent goes to Transmedia and those wind-store transmitters.
“The 10 percent that is taken by BAZ is where the money for community radio stations is taken from, the equipment, the awareness and the support that is given to them.”
He said fee collections were still ongoing and so were the projects.
Dr Soda said the money is also used for development, including the studio upgrade of the Montrose in Bulawayo, where there has been a migration to digital from analogue owing to the procurement of modern transmitters.
“There are a lot of projects, another example is Maphisa, where the Independence celebrations will be held. There has been a transmitter which was established and the coverage is 80km radius. This is one of the examples for which the money is being used, but many projects are being realised from the funds that are being collected,” he said.
Dr Soda said there were 177 radio transmitters dotted around the country, critical in the migration from analogue to digital.
“The US$13,6 million that I have just referred to is not enough to complete all 177 radio transmitters. Apart from radio transmitters, we are also transforming the 36 television transmitters, which are being worked on from analogue to digital transmission and also for the provision of set-top boxes. So, to say US$13,6 million was collected and does not seem to have shown its usefulness, that is not correct,” he said.
“We intend that all the areas – as we speak, our radio reception is at 81 percent throughout the whole country. We do not doubt that some pockets still have poor transmission.
“As we get to the end of 2026, the plan is to get to 85 percent of coverage of the whole country and as we get to 2030, we promise that we will have covered 100 percent of the whole country through funds that are being collected as radio licences.”
He said the Government had significantly reduced radio and television licences and was ready to do so in respect of vehicle radio licences.
“The President directed the Government to expedite the elimination of excessive regulations and punitive administration costs imposed by Ministries and Government agencies. As a result, Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) under the Government directive significantly reduced radio and television licence fees via a statutory instrument 203A of 2025, which took effect from the 15th January, 2026.
“This reform responds to public complaints about high fees, such as the United States US$100 for household television licenses, aiming to boost compliance and ease of doing business costs.
“New rates payable in local currency at market rates include household TV, which used to be US$100, reduced to US$24, urban radio, which used to be US$10, reduced to US$5, business sound US$50, business television US$$100, vehicle sound or television US$30 per term. Our listening Government will continue to review fees in line with the ease of doing business mantra, which has been adopted,” he said.
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