Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has criticised the compulsory collection of radio listeners’ licence fees, saying it forces citizens to financially support a State broadcaster it views as biased.
In its 2025 Human Rights Situation Report, the commission highlighted concerns over the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation’s (ZBC) perceived lack of editorial impartiality.
Under section 38B of the Broadcasting Services Act, motorists must show a valid ZBC radio licence or exemption certificate when licensing or insuring a vehicle, effectively making payment mandatory to access essential services.
ZHRC says this enforcement is unconstitutional when applied to a public broadcaster that does not consistently meet the impartiality standards outlined in section 61(4) of the Constitution. It said:
“Linking vehicle licensing and insurance to a ZBC radio listener’s licence raises concerns, apart from the licence’s significant cost, about freedom of choice in information sources.
“This undermines the right to freedoms of movement, expression and access to information and obliges people to financially support a State-run broadcaster whose editorial content is partisan in violation of section 61(4) constitutional guarantee of media freedom through the requirement of State-owned media to be impartial, independent and accessible to divergent and dissenting views, a regression of the rights that the Zimbabwean Constitution seeks to protect.”
ZHRC criticised the mandatory payment of radio licences, saying it undermines freedom of expression and access to information by removing citizens’ choice over which media to support.
The commission also noted that enforcing compliance through vehicle licensing and insurance places an unfair financial burden on the public.
It argued that such practices violate consumer protection principles, which require transparency and fair access to information, and noted that many people consider the licensing fees expensive.
ZHRC has called on authorities to urgently review the radio licensing framework and ensure it aligns with constitutional standards for public media and the protection of fundamental rights.
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