Zimbabweans refusing to pay ZBC radio and TV license fees

By Tererai Karimakwenda
25 August 2006

Fed up with what they describe as extremely poor quality programming and government propaganda, Zimbabweans have been refusing to pay the mandatory radio and television license fees to Zimbabwe Broadcast Holdings (ZBH). The state controlled media entity has launched a very expensive campaign to collect the license fees, buying brand new vehicles and employing hundreds of agents to go door to door. In Harare our correspondent Simon Muchemwa reports that these ZBH agents are receiving threats from Zimbabweans who say they do not watch ZBC television or listen to state radio. He said many families are refusing to pay the Z$650 (revalued) for TV and Z$20 (revalued) for radio licenses.

Muchemwa said Zimbabweans are complaining about the quality of programmes on the state controlled television and radio outlets. They say the picture and sound quality is poor and the news bulletins are mostly government propaganda. Muchemwa added that infighting within the ruling party is spilling over into the state controlled media with ZANU-PF officials attacking each other on the news and talk show programmes.

The other element working against the state is satellite television which many Zimbabweans subscribe to. Muchemwa said those receiving financial assistance from family members abroad have satellite dishes and therefore access to better quality broadcasts from South Africa and Botswana based media outfits. There is also BTV, a Botswana based television station which Zimbabweans receive for free and has become very popular.

Muchemwa said some license fee agents have had dogs set on them and now fear going door to door in the high-density suburbs of Harare. Threats are also reported to be quite common. Muchemwa told us the agents are provided with reflective vests and ZBH identity cards. He said he was not aware of any reports of fake agents trying to collect fees from unsuspecting families.