(MISA/IFEX) – The Zimbabwe government has approved the commercialisation of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) into a public company wholly owned by the government, “The Herald” reported on 25 October 2001. The newspaper reported that the ZBC commercialisation bill will soon go to parliament. The bill intends to split the public broadcaster into two separate […]
(MISA/IFEX) – The Zimbabwe government has approved the commercialisation of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) into a public company wholly owned by the government, “The Herald” reported on 25 October 2001.
The newspaper reported that the ZBC commercialisation bill will soon go to parliament. The bill intends to split the public broadcaster into two separate companies: one responsible for broadcasting and the other for signal transmission. The rationale, according to “The Herald”, is to make the ZBC concentrate on its core business of providing radio and television broadcasting.
The new signal carrier company will concentrate on providing signal transmission services for broadcasters to get efficient signal transmission service without prejudicing “national security”. The two companies would be formed under the Companies Act, but wholly owned by the government. The newspaper also stated that commercialisation would give ZBC the opportunity to make a profit and not rely on government subsidies. According to “The Herald”, the government has seen it prudent that the broadcasting and signal carrier businesses be run on a commercial basis. A new look ZBC is expected to be launched next month.
The ZBC remains the country’s sole broadcaster, even though a new Broadcasting Act, which paved the way for the entry of private players, was passed in April. The Zimbabwe government has not implemented the act, leading to conclusions that there is no political will on the part of the authorities to open the airwaves. The signal company that would be formed from a split ZBC is seen as one way that the government would use to choose who gets a licence or not. No individual, organisations or companies would be allowed to own signal carrier transmitters, leaving the signal company with a monopoly.
