Why should vehicle owners pay for a Radio License for non-functional or non-existent radios?

44 years on, The Zimbabwean liberation struggle was fought to end the exploitation and marginalisation of the majority. Central to this was the pursuit of fairness, equality and the eradication of unjust systems that disproportionately burdened ordinary citizens. However, some of the recent policy changes in Zimbabwe, such as the requirement for vehicle owners to pay for radio licenses even when the radios in their cars are non-functional, non-existent or incompatible with Zimbabwean broadcasting frequencies, betray the values that liberation fighters laid their lives for.

According to the highlighted amendment of Section 38B of Cap 12:06, the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) and insurance companies can only issue vehicle licenses and insurance policies to individuals who either hold a valid radio license issued by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) or can provide proof that their vehicle lacks a radio receiver. This policy assumes that all vehicles are equipped with functional radios or that car owners actively use broadcasting services.

This blanket requirement ignores several realities:

Non-Functional Radios: Many vehicles, especially older models, have radios that no longer work.

Japanese Imports: A significant number of vehicles in Zimbabwe are imported from Japan, where radios are tuned to frequencies incompatible with local broadcasting systems.

No Radios at All: Some vehicles, such as certain commercial trucks, are manufactured without radios altogether.

Mandating payment for a service that many vehicle owners do not use amounts to institutional exploitation. Vehicle owners are already burdened with high costs for fuel, maintenance, licensing, and insurance. Adding an unnecessary and arguably irrelevant cost for a radio license further strains their finances. For the ordinary Zimbabwean, this is not just a financial inconvenience it is a betrayal of the promise of a liberated Zimbabwe where systems would be just and equitable.

The policy's provision for applicants to sign a declaration if their vehicle lacks a radio adds bureaucratic inefficiency without addressing the core issue: why should citizens have to justify not using a service to avoid being charged for it? This process risks creating bottlenecks and opportunities for corruption, as officials may exploit the situation to solicit bribes for approvals.

Policies should be grounded in fairness, practicality, and consideration of citizens' realities. Instead of imposing blanket requirements, the government should explore alternative ways to fund broadcasting services. These could include:

Voluntary Contributions: Encourage those who actively use ZBC services to support the broadcaster through voluntary subscriptions.

Usage-Based Models: Introduce fees only for individuals or entities that actively consume ZBC content.

Modernisation of Revenue Models: With declining radio listenership, ZBC should pivot toward digital platforms and seek funding through advertising or partnerships, rather than taxing non-users.

The liberation struggle was a call for justice, fairness and the protection of citizens' rights. Policies like this radio licence requirement undermine these values, perpetuating systems of exploitation that the struggle sought to dismantle. Zimbabwean leaders must revisit this policy and ensure it aligns with the principles of liberation, fairness, and the empowerment of the majority. Only then can the sacrifices of those who fought for freedom be honoured.