News / National
Zim offers two commercial radio licences
06 Jun 2011 at 13:11hrs | Views
Zimbabwe has offered two commercial radio licences, according to a newspaper advertisement published on Thursday, a move that will end decades of state domination of the airwaves.
The advert in the state-controlled Herald newspaper taken out by the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe said the licence would run for 10 years and stations would be required to pay $15,000 annually plus 1 percent of their gross yearly turnover.
Reforming the media is a contentious issue within the power-sharing government set up two years ago by President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
Tsvangirai has accused state-controlled newspapers and television of being biased towards Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party.
Several newspapers have been licensed since May 2010 by a reconstituted Zimbabwe Media Commission, which regulates the newspaper publishing industry.
Three national private dailies are now being published, along with two state-owned titles.
The broadcasting authority could not be reached for comment and the advert did not mention opening up the television sector monopolised by the state's Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.
Mugabe wants polls to be held this year but Tsvangirai and his Movement for Democratic Change said elections can only be held within the next 12 months. They first want a more open press and constitutional and political reform.
The advert in the state-controlled Herald newspaper taken out by the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe said the licence would run for 10 years and stations would be required to pay $15,000 annually plus 1 percent of their gross yearly turnover.
Reforming the media is a contentious issue within the power-sharing government set up two years ago by President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
Tsvangirai has accused state-controlled newspapers and television of being biased towards Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party.
Three national private dailies are now being published, along with two state-owned titles.
The broadcasting authority could not be reached for comment and the advert did not mention opening up the television sector monopolised by the state's Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.
Mugabe wants polls to be held this year but Tsvangirai and his Movement for Democratic Change said elections can only be held within the next 12 months. They first want a more open press and constitutional and political reform.
Source - Reuters
