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There is no transparency in ZBC licence fees: Mawarire
3 hrs ago |
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Journalist and former ZimFirst spokesperson Jealous Mawarire says there is no transparency in how Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) licence fees are being used, arguing that the public can only have confidence in the system if government discloses who receives a mysterious 4% share of the collected funds.
Mawarire made the remarks on his X (formerly Twitter) account while responding to government spokesperson Nick Mangwana.
"There is no transparency to talk about on how the ZBC licence fees are used. If your Ministry is transparent, tell us who is the UNKNOWN entity who collects 4% of the ZBC licence fees when it's collected by the Vendor," Mawarire wrote.
He said he was aware that the vendor responsible for the collection system receives 15% of the fees, while BAZ, Transmedia and ZBC share 81%. However, he questioned why official documents list an additional 4% going to an unnamed entity.
Mawarire said that in December 2025, a total of 180,320 vehicles paid radio licence fees, generating US$5,048,960. In January 2026, 196,310 vehicles paid, bringing in US$5,496,680.
He said this meant that in January alone, US$219,867 - representing 4% - went to an entity referred to only as "UNKNOWN".
"What it also means is that US$2.6 million of the ZBC licences collected annually goes to an UNKNOWN entity. One that you, or any other public official, are afraid to mention by name," he said.
"That's part of the money we are seeing being misused every day. That's the Zimbabwe under @edmnangagwa, a crime scene. So don't talk of ‘transparency' because there is none in ED's government and its State‑Owned Enterprises."
Responding earlier, Mangwana had said government believes in transparency and that citizens have a right to know how public funds are used.
"As Government, we have no qualms with being held accountable; in fact, we welcome it. To that end, my brother Rash, please understand that 30% of the revenue from licence fees is being channelled directly into expanding the national transmission network," Mangwana said.
He added that the new licence regime, introduced in July 2025, ensures that "every cent received has been, and continues to be, fully accounted for".
"Zimbabweans can rest assured that this Government will not allow their hard‑earned money to be abused or misappropriated," he said.
Mawarire made the remarks on his X (formerly Twitter) account while responding to government spokesperson Nick Mangwana.
"There is no transparency to talk about on how the ZBC licence fees are used. If your Ministry is transparent, tell us who is the UNKNOWN entity who collects 4% of the ZBC licence fees when it's collected by the Vendor," Mawarire wrote.
He said he was aware that the vendor responsible for the collection system receives 15% of the fees, while BAZ, Transmedia and ZBC share 81%. However, he questioned why official documents list an additional 4% going to an unnamed entity.
Mawarire said that in December 2025, a total of 180,320 vehicles paid radio licence fees, generating US$5,048,960. In January 2026, 196,310 vehicles paid, bringing in US$5,496,680.
He said this meant that in January alone, US$219,867 - representing 4% - went to an entity referred to only as "UNKNOWN".
"That's part of the money we are seeing being misused every day. That's the Zimbabwe under @edmnangagwa, a crime scene. So don't talk of ‘transparency' because there is none in ED's government and its State‑Owned Enterprises."
Responding earlier, Mangwana had said government believes in transparency and that citizens have a right to know how public funds are used.
"As Government, we have no qualms with being held accountable; in fact, we welcome it. To that end, my brother Rash, please understand that 30% of the revenue from licence fees is being channelled directly into expanding the national transmission network," Mangwana said.
He added that the new licence regime, introduced in July 2025, ensures that "every cent received has been, and continues to be, fully accounted for".
"Zimbabweans can rest assured that this Government will not allow their hard‑earned money to be abused or misappropriated," he said.
Source - Byo24News
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