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The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe has issued six new Television licences to firms allegedly linked to the government while blocking other applicants like Trevor Ncube’s Heart and Soul and AB Communications owned by Supa Mandiwanzira.
The new players in the broadcasting industry include Jester Media (Pvt) Ltd trading as 3K TV, Zimbabwe Newspapers (1980) Ltd trading as ZTN, Acacia Media Group (Pvt) trading as Kumba TV, Rusununguko Media Group (Pvt) Ltd trading as NRTV, Fairtalk Communications (Pvt) Ltd trading as Ke Yona TV and Channel Dzimbahwe (Pvt) Ltd trading as Channel D.
Announcing the news, BAZ said:
“The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe wishes to advise members of the public that the process of licensing new Television Services has been completed. The authority applications for the provision of free to air National Commercial Television Broadcasting Services licenses in February 2020 and received a total of fourteen (14) applications.
“The Authority processed the applications in terms of the requirement of the Broadcasting Service Act (Chapter 20: 06) including conducting public enquires to determine Applicant’s suitability to be issued with the Broadcasting Service Licenses. The Authority has completed the processing of the applications and the final adjudication thereof.
“The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe advised that the following six applicants have been awarded free to air National Commercial Television Broadcasting Licenses Jester Media (Pvt) Ltd trading as 3K TV, Zimbabwe Newspapers (1980) Ltd trading as ZTN, Acacia Media Group (Pvt) trading as Kumba TV, Rusununguko Media Group (Pvt) Ltd trading as NRTV, Fairtalk Communications (Pvt) Ltd trading as Ke Yona TV and Channel Dzimbahwe (Pvt) Ltd trading as Channel D.”
Jester Media is reported to be owned by Daily News, ZTN is run by state owned media Zimpapers while Rusununguko is run by the Zimbabwe Nation Army.
It has also emerged that Acacia Media is owned by ex-Zanu PF Goromonzi South constituency aspirant Sharon Mugabe.
Another new player, Fairtalk Communications, is partly owned by Rusununguko, an army company.
Former Zimbabwe Broadcasting Cooperation boss Happison Muchechetere is alleged to be the owner of Channel D.
BAZ board chairman, Manzi Sibanda said that the new licenses shall have one year and half to prepare and start to broadcasts as per required by section 11 (7) of the Broadcasting Services Act (BSA) chapter 12:06).
“The new licenses shall have eighteen months to roll out their plans and go on air in line with section 11 (7) of the Broadcasting Services Act (BSA) chapter 12:06).”
He however added that in an event of failure to go on air, the licence will be revoked and given to other aspirants using the same process.
“In the event of failure to broadcast, the licence will be availed to other aspirants through the similar process.”
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