(MISA/IFEX) – The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) has blamed the Ministry of Information and Publicity for the delays in the issuing of broadcasting licences to private and community radio stations. BAZ Chairman Pikirayi Deketeke says the licensing authority submitted its recommendations for amendments to the Broadcasting Services Act (BSA) to the ministry. Deketeke said […]
(MISA/IFEX) – The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) has blamed the Ministry of Information and Publicity for the delays in the issuing of broadcasting licences to private and community radio stations.
BAZ Chairman Pikirayi Deketeke says the licensing authority submitted its recommendations for amendments to the Broadcasting Services Act (BSA) to the ministry. Deketeke said the amendments in question would make it much easier for would-be private broadcasters to meet the licensing requirements than under the existing restrictive provisions in the BSA.
Deketeke was responding to questions posed by the weekly “Financial Gazette” about why they had not met a July 2006 deadline, by which the BAZ had told the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Communications that it would be in a position to call for applications for broadcasting licences.
“It becomes difficult if we are to call for applications when we know those eager to apply fail to meet the criteria and requirements,” said Deketeke. “We have made recommendations for the amendment of the BSA, but we have not had any input from the ministry.”
“The amendments we have recommended to the ministry will assist in allowing new players. As things stand it is difficult to accuse the BAZ of being in contempt of Parliament or the Portfolio Committee on Transport and Communications,” he said.
No private radio stations have been issued broadcasting licences since the enactment of the BSA in 2001.
Following the expiry of the July deadline, Committee Chairman Leo Mugabe said the BAZ was in contempt of court for failing to fulfill a commitment it had given under oath.