HARARE, Zimbabwe – President Emmerson Mnangagwa has signed into law a contentious new requirement forcing all Zimbabwean motorists to purchase radio licences before renewing vehicle permits or buying insurance. The Broadcasting Amendment Act (No 2 of 2025) was gazetted on 23 May, sparking widespread criticism from opposition leaders and car owners across the country.
Under the new law, motorists must pay $23 per quarter or $92 annually for a Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) radio licence. The measure applies to all vehicle licence renewals, registrations and insurance purchases, with drivers required to present valid ZBC licences or exemption certificates.
Zimbabwe has 1.2 million registered vehicles, though only 800,000 typically renew their licences each year according to the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (ZINARA). If all complying vehicles pay the fee, ZBC could collect over $73 million annually to support the financially troubled state broadcaster.
Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa condemned the legislation as “too draconian, anti-citizens and outrightly heartless” in a post on X. “So a person who owns a car pays ZINARA, ZBC, insurance and toll fees, how are people supposed to survive?” Chamisa asked, criticising what he called “partisan propaganda, where I am attacked in person and demonised from dawn to dusk”.
The backlash extends beyond political circles. Harare motorist Lazarus Bhebhe told reporters his imported car radio cannot pick up local stations, while another driver, Lucky Makomo, called it “absurd to pay for a service we can’t use”.
ZBC has previously deployed inspectors to fine owners of cars whose radios were broken or incompatible with local frequencies. The broadcaster has long struggled to attract commercial revenue and relies heavily on licence fees and government subsidies.
Government officials defend the measure as necessary to fund public broadcasting services. Information Minister Jenfan Muswere announced the amendment following cabinet approval earlier this year, saying it would broaden ZBC’s revenue base while modernizing broadcasting regulations.
International election observers have repeatedly criticized ZBC for pro-government bias and called for wider media reform. Vehicle licence fees already constitute 80 percent of the broadcaster’s total revenue, making motorists the primary funding source for ZBC operations.
The new requirements take effect immediately, with motorists required to present valid ZBC radio licences or exemption certificates when applying for vehicle registration, insurance, or licence disc renewal. Failure to comply could leave vehicles off the road or uninsured.
Legal experts predict the law will face court challenges, while critics argue it unfairly burdens car owners to support what they view as a government propaganda outlet. The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zimbabwe had urged reconsideration of the bill before it was signed into law.
The legislation adds to financial pressures on Zimbabwean motorists already facing rising fuel costs, toll fees and vehicle maintenance expenses in the country’s challenging economic environment.
