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GPA - 18 months on
Radio Dialogue
January 30, 2010

It is now one and a half years since the three political parties arrived at The Global Political Agreement (GPA). The issues on which agreement was reached include "the immediate processing of all applications for registration in terms of the Broadcasting Services Act".

Radio Dialogue submitted its application to the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe in January 2005. Along with applications from all other potential radio stations, this was refused.

When the Inclusive Government was formed last year, we were therefore expecting the immediate processing of our application.

For five years now, Radio Dialogue have been meeting with government on the issue of community radio licensing. The GPA brought great hope that, at last, licences would be issued. For sixteen months now the people of Bulawayo have been waiting the Inclusive Government to fulfil its promises. But this has been in vain.

The community of Bulawayo want to hear Radio Dialogue broadcasting, and we are now losing patience with government. There has been a lot of talk, but no progress whatsoever, in implementing the GPA as far as broadcasting is concerned. We are losing confidence in the Inclusive Government's desire, or ability, to complete the liberation of our nation by freeing the airwaves.

We do not even know whether there is a legitimate Broadcasting Authority in place. One has been announced by the Minister, but then rejected by the Deputy Minister and the Prime Minister. Who is to call for and process any applications?

Government continually complains about broadcasts beamed in from outside the country. The best way to deal with these is to license new stations to broadcast inside Zimbabwe.

In the current state of confusion within the Ministry of Media, Information and Publicity:

• with its inability to put Article 19 of the GPA into effect,
• with its inability to constitute a legitimate Broadcasting Authority,
• with its inability to grant licences,

Are we to assume that we should now commence broadcasting without a licence? The people of Bulawayo want the airwaves to be freed!

Pr. Peter Zwidekalanga Khumalo
Chairman, Radio Dialogue Trust

Background - 5 Year History of Radio Dialogue's Engagement with Government in Efforts to Obtain a Broadcasting Licence

In January 2005, Radio Dialogue submitted to the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) an application for a broadcasting licence. This application was refused, as were applications from all other potential radio stations.

In February 2006, the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport & Communications (PPCTC) toured the Radio Dialogue studios, held discussions with Trustees, and presented its report to Parliament. Among other issues the report, stated "BAZ was looking forward to flighting the new adverts for TV and radio stations by June 2006". This never happened.

In May 2006, at the request of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee, Radio Dialogue submitted proposals for amendments to the Broadcasting Services Act (BSA).

In October 2007, the Minister of Information and Publicity informed MISA that BAZ would invite licence applications by the end of that year. This did not happen.

In December 2007, BSA was amended, incorporating most of Radio Dialogue's proposals. These included moving the responsibility for appointing BAZ members, from the Minister, to the President; nine after consultation with the Minister and the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders, and three from a list submitted by the Committee on Standing Rules & Orders.

In April 2009, the Minister of Media, Information and Publicity toured Radio Dialogue studios, and held discussions with Trustees and staff. This was encouraging.

In May 2009, at the invitation of the Minister, Radio Dialogue, sent representatives to attend the government organised Zimbabwe Media Stakeholder Conference. In his closing remarks, the Deputy Minister of Media, Information and Publicity announced that BAZ will be appointed to licence other broadcasters. The same conference also recommended that all members of BAZ be nominated by the Parliament Standing Rules & Orders Committee.

In October 2009, along with other members of the Zimbabwe Association of Community Radio Stations (ZACRAS), we held further encouraging discussions with the Minister, Deputy Minister and Principal Director at the Ministry of Media Information & Publicity.

The same month, either ignoring or unaware of the amendments made to BSA, the Minister unilaterally appointed members to BAZ. These appointments were immediately rejected by the Deputy Minister and subsequently by the Prime Minister.

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