By Shongedzai Mugwagwa

Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting through the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ), has extended an invitation for applications for six (6) commercial television stations and 10 community radio stations, the Harare Post can report.

In a bold move to implement reforms as stipulated by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s new dispensation, BAZ flighted an invitation in the newspapers stipulating the requirements for the interested parties.

The licences will be for a duration of ten years, the coverage scope for television will be national, and community radios will cover the following areas; Shamva, Mbembezi, Beitbridge, Binga (Kamativi, Kariba), Chikombedzi, Chipinge, Hwange and Maphisa.

The Zimbabwe Association of Community Radio Stations (Zacras) applauded Government for a move towards the liberalisation of the broadcasting airspace.

“Breaking News: For the first time since the enactment of the Broadcasting Services Act (BSA) of 2001, the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) has published a notice inviting applications for those wishing to establish community radio stations in Zimbabwe.

“The notice which has been published in today's Herald Zimbabwe is also inviting applications for those wishing to establish free to air national commercial television broadcasting services,” writes Zacras on their social media page.

Speaking at a media stakeholders' meeting in Harare recently, Secretary in the Information Ministry, Mr Nick Mangwana said that Government is planning on opening the broadcasting airspace for both public and private players, while the Government would consider increasing the threshold for foreign ownership from the current 20 percent.