Zimbabwe’s Media Reforms in Limbo as Controversial Bill Awaits Senate Approval

By Shingirai Vambe

Zimbabwe’s government has been pushing for laws with and without Parliament’s aid, sparking concerns about the erosion of democratic institutions. The recent passage of the Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill in the National Assembly is a prime example of this trend. Despite widespread criticism and public outcry, the Bill sailed through the National Assembly on March 4, 2025, and now awaits Senate approval before being sent to President Emmerson Mnangagwa for assent.

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA Zimbabwe) and the Media Alliance of Zimbabwe (MAZ) have expressed dismay over the Bill’s passage, citing the government’s disregard for public input and the need for comprehensive media reforms. The two organizations had participated in public hearings and made written and oral submissions on the Bill, but their concerns were largely ignored.

The government’s push for this Bill is part of a broader pattern of using statutory instruments to bypass Parliament and impose its will on the country. This has led to an outcry over the incessant use of these instruments, which often go unchallenged and unscrutinized.

In recent years, Zimbabwe has seen a significant shift in its constitutional order towards authoritarian consolidation and democratic erosion. The Constitution of Zimbabwe was amended in 2021, strengthening the hand of the executive in appointment of personnel to key institutions such as the judiciary and the office of the prosecutor general.

The Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill is particularly contentious, as it proposes to compel motorists to buy vehicle radio licenses before purchasing vehicle insurance and licenses. This move is seen as an attempt to further burden citizens with already heavy taxes. The Bill also reverses the 40% foreign shareholding in the broadcasting sector, which could stifle foreign investment and undermine media diversity.

MISA Zimbabwe and MAZ have urged the Senate and President Mnangagwa to reject the Bill and return it to the Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services for revision. They argue that the Bill, in its current form, will stifle media freedom and undermine Zimbabwe’s democratic progress.

“MISA Zimbabwe and MAZ are particularly disappointed by how the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Honourable Jenfan Muswere, who is sponsoring the Bill in Parliament, seemingly disregarded the input of the people as obtained in the report of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Information, Media and Broadcasting Services. The Committee in terms of Section 141 of the Constitution sought the input of the public through public hearings conducted in at least seven provinces from the 16th to the 21st of December 2024,” read the statement.

MISA Zimbabwe and MAZ shadowed this process, which drew the participation of 485 citizens according to parliamentary records. The two media support bodies also made written and oral submissions on the Bill.

According to the two organizations, It is regrettable the Minister did not consider the views of the hundreds that participated in this public process, nor did he take into cognizance the views of the media stakeholders whose interests MISA Zimbabwe and MAZ represent. Worse still, the Minister ignored the debates of legislators from across the political divide, who to their credit echoed the views widely expressed by media stakeholders and the public.

In that regard, MISA Zimbabwe and MAZ expected significant changes in the long-awaited reforms to the broadcasting regulatory framework through the Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill.

Furthermore, The passage of the Bill without addressing the critical questions on the independence of the broadcasting regulatory authority, enhancing public participation in the licensing process and strengthening parliamentary oversight, makes a mockery of the reform process.

The Bill passed by the National Assembly sets a bad precedent of allowing opaque processes in the transfer of licences and does not provide safeguards limiting the number of licences that one can hold thereby defeating the constitutional obligation to media diversity.

As the Southern African country grapples with economic and political challenges, the need for comprehensive media reforms and respect for democratic norms has never been more pressing. The passage of the Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill is a stark reminder of the government’s willingness to disregard democratic institutions and impose its will on the country.