BAZ gets plaudits for nudity stance

The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (Baz) has received support from human rights defenders and social analysts after condemning a surge in nudity and pornographic material circulating on social media platforms.

The regulator's intervention follows growing concern that the race for clicks, traffic, and monetisation has pushed some Zimbabwean content creators to post sexually explicit material, exposing minors and blurring the line between freedom of expression and public decency.

In recent months, several local netizens and self-styled celebrities have courted controversy by sharing nude or sexually explicit content to boost engagement and earnings on monetised platforms.

On February 3, Baz raised alarm over what it described as the increasing circulation of explicit digital content reaching local audiences — including children. The authority emphasised that all broadcasting and digital content consumed in Zimbabwe falls under the country's legal and constitutional framework, regardless of the platform hosting it.

The warning followed the rise of a Zimbabwean content creator identified as Queen Nadia, who gained popularity after posting a series of uncensored videos on Facebook. While section 61 of the Constitution guarantees freedom of expression, Baz stressed that this right must be exercised responsibly in line with section 86, which limits freedoms to protect the rights of others and public morality.

The regulator cited the Broadcasting Services Act, which mandates the protection of minors from content that may harm their moral or psychological well-being, as well as the Censorship and Entertainment Control Act, which outlaws the distribution of material deemed vulgar, indecent, or harmful to public decency.

Speaking to reporters, Australia-based analyst Reason Wafawarova said Baz was acting within its mandate.

"Baz can lawfully step in to stop self-exposure on social media. Once conduct enters the public space, it is no longer a private matter," he said. Wafawarova argued that some content creators were disregarding legal, cultural, and social norms.

"I, too, feel like walking around naked at times. I cannot, except where society tolerates it. Freedoms are not absolutes. They exist within limits — legal, cultural, and social. The claim that any action becomes unquestionable simply because it involves one's body is not freedom. It is the rejection of law, culture, and the very idea of a shared society," he said.

Pastor and human rights defender Anglistone Sibanda also criticised the trend, lamenting the virality of explicit content over substantive discourse.

"I follow serious content creators. You will realise that they do not attract as many likes and views as nudity or explicit content," he said. "We are simply not a serious generation anymore. I have not visited the alleged explicit content page, nor will I do so. It is not my area of interest, but I am shocked by the hullabaloo and stampede surrounding it."

Baz's intervention signals a tightening of oversight over online content in Zimbabwe, highlighting the balance between digital freedoms and societal responsibility.