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Consumers object to ineffectual surveys
Public Information Rights Forum (PIRF)
July 08, 2003

The Public Information Rights Forum (PIRF) would like to register its strong objection to the recent survey on broadcasting priorities conducted by the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ).

We note with concern that this is the second survey being conducted by the same institution within two years. The first survey, which consisted of open-ended questions, had a deadline of 31st August 2001. A worrying aspect of this is that neither the frequency allotment plans nor new players in the broadcasting arena were realized after the survey was concluded. Instead, the past two years have seen the disappearance of the only alternative broadcaster, Joy Television, in the broadcasting sector and an increasing intimidation of aspiring and existing independent broadcasters through bombing, harassment of their workers and threats.

The latest survey, whose deadline is 5th September 2003, comes hardly a month after the Minster of Information and Publicity in the Office of the President and Cabinet promised Zimbabweans that administrative policies and technical instruments for licensing new players would be put in place before the end of July. Given the survey would be used for determining the frequency allotment plan, it means that these technicalities are not possible before September.

In terms of the Broadcasting Services Act (Chapter 2:06), the BAZ is the sole manager of the frequency spectrum of Zimbabwe, and the licensing and regulatory authority for all broadcasting services of Zimbabwe. It plays an advisory role to the Minister who is the final licensing authority. This arrangement renders the whole management of the frequency spectrum prone to political interference and cannot be described as democratic.

The Forum will therefore support efforts to urgently review relevant constitutional and legal clauses hindering the coming in of new players into the broadcasting arena.

The PIRF acts as a representative of community consumers of media services and products.

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