ZIMBABWE’S government has introduced a new policy that is stirring debate and concern across the country. Under a recently passed law, all motorists are now required to pay a US$92 annual radio licence fee before they can insure their vehicles. The move has sparked questions about the fairness of tying insurance to a broadcaster’s funding, especially at a time when economic pressures are already squeezing the average driver.
The measure, part of the Broadcasting Services Amendment Act, is intended to provide additional revenue for the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC). The State broadcaster has been struggling financially, depending on licence fees, advertising income and government grants to stay afloat. However, this new approach has left many wondering if it is fair or even practical to use insurance as leverage on to collect funds for a broadcaster.
The law also places a role on the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara). Zinara is responsible for collecting road user fees, including vehicle licensing, toll fees and transit fees and ensuring sustainable funding for road development projects. Under the new arrangement, motorists cannot obtain or renew a vehicle licence with Zinara unless they can prove they have paid the ZBC radio licence fee. This means that an institution meant to support road infrastructure is now also involved in ensuring compliance with funding for the State broadcaster.
Although there are around 1,2 million registered vehicles in Zimbabwe, only about 800 000 of them pay for insurance, according to local reports. Forcing motorists to pay a radio licence fee to access insurance will add another cost to those who are already finding it hard to keep up with day-to-day expenses.
This is not a trivial fee. It is set at US$23 per quarter, adding up to US$92 each year. That amount is significant for many Zimbabweans, especially in an economy where fuel and food prices continue to climb. At the same time, critics argue that the broadcaster’s record of political bias means that this new funding stream may not lead to the kind of independent, trusted media that citizens deserve.
The issue goes beyond just the amount involved. There is a principle at stake: whether it is right for a government to link access to insurance, a basic and often legally required service, to the funding of a State broadcaster. Many see this as an unfair burden that punishes those who cannot afford or do not want to support ZBC. Insurance is meant to protect motorists, not to serve as a tool for enforcing payments to a media company.
It is also worth noting that in modern Zimbabwe, many drivers no longer rely on the State broadcaster for their news or entertainment. The radio landscape has evolved, with independent and community stations providing a wide range of programming that often resonates more with listeners. Forcing them to pay the ZBC licence fee regardless of whether they listen to it is a policy that feels out of step with how people consume media products today.
The government’s response has been to argue that the new law will close loopholes and ensure that more motorists pay what they owe. There are exemptions in place for tourists and vehicles without radio receivers. Yet for the vast majority of motorists, compliance is not optional. Without a valid ZBC radio licence, they will be unable to insure their vehicles or obtain a licence from Zinara, leaving them exposed to further financial risk and legal penalties.
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The fairness of this policy is not the only issue. There is also the question of how effective it will be. A law that relies on coercion rather than voluntary support risks undermining trust in public institutions. Zimbabwe’s leaders have long insisted that ZBC is an essential part of the country’s media landscape. If that is the case, they need to find a way to fund it that respects the choices and economic realities of ordinary citizens.
Public broadcasting does have an important role to play. It can bring people together, provide a platform for debate and help to ensure that everyone has access to reliable information. But when the broadcaster in question has faced repeated accusations of bias, particularly during elections, there is an understandable reluctance to pay more for its services. The opposition has accused ZBC of giving favourable coverage to the ruling Zanu PF party, a claim ZBC denies. However, perception matters and right now, the perception is that this new fee is a way of propping up a partisan media outlet rather than supporting an independent voice for the public.
At a time when the cost of living is rising and many families are struggling to make ends meet, adding an extra US$92 a year for a service that not everyone wants is more than an inconvenience. It is a real hardship. Zimbabwe’s economy has been through years of turbulence and many feel that their leaders should be focused on easing the burden, not adding to it.
The government may see this new policy as a simple way to boost revenue for ZBC. But for many Zimbabweans, it is a stark reminder of how decisions made in Parliament can have a very direct impact on their daily lives. It is also a chance to think more deeply about what public broadcasting should look like in a democratic society. Should it be funded by everyone, regardless of whether they use it? Should it be trusted and valued by the people it claims to serve? Or should it have to earn its place, competing fairly with other voices in the media landscape?
Until these questions are addressed, the radio licence fee will continue to be a source of frustration and resentment. For motorists, it is another line on an already long list of expenses. For ZBC, it is a lifeline that may come at the cost of public trust. For Zimbabwe as a whole, it is a reminder that fairness and accountability are just as important as balancing the books.
As this new policy takes effect, the debate is unlikely to die down. It will shape how people view not just ZBC and Zinara, but also the relationship between the government and citizens. And for those who must now choose between insurance and an extra fee they did not ask for, it is a decision that carries real consequences.
- Leo Muzivoreva is a Zimbabwean writer with works featured in various African magazines. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree and a Postgraduate Diploma in Media Studies, both from Midlands State University.
