Government has approved a review of licences, levies, permits and fees in the telecommunications and broadcasting sectors in a step aimed at lowering the cost of data and voice services while maintaining sustainable revenue for the fiscus.
Announcing the decision during the post-Cabinet briefing today, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Jenfan Muswere said the review targets both regulatory inefficiencies and high charges that have weighed heavily on operators and consumers.
“Cabinet approved the Review of Licences, Levies, Permits and Fees in the Telecommunications and Broadcasting Sectors,” Muswere said.
He said the review in the broadcasting sector will be wide-ranging, covering campus and community radio broadcasting, free-to-air radio services, provincial, local and commercial radio stations, commercial television services, signal carrier services and satellite broadcasting services.
“In the Broadcasting Sector, reviews will cover sub-sectors such as Campus and Community Radio Broadcasting; Radio Broadcasting embracing Free-to-Air, Provincial, Local and Commercial Radio Services; Commercial Television Services; Signal Carrier Services; and Satellite Broadcasting Services,” Muswere said.
The telecommunications sector will also be subjected to a comprehensive assessment, with mobile network operators, fixed telephone operators and internet service providers all included in the review.
“Reviews in the Telecommunications Sector will cover Mobile Network Operators, Fixed Telephone Operators and Internet Service Providers,” Minister Muswere stated .
Government has acknowledged that existing charges in both sectors are comparatively high and have imposed a heavy financial burden on service providers.
“Government has noted that some fees and levies being charged in both the Telecommunications and the Broadcasting sectors are on the higher side, thereby imposing a significant cost and burden on telecommunications and broadcasting operators,” he said.
Minister Muswere added that the review is a deliberate fiscal intervention designed to benefit both businesses and the general public.
“In that regard, the review of licences, levies, permits and fees in the two sectors is a deliberate initiative to review taxes in order to reduce the cost of data and voice calls for businesses and the general public, while at the same time ensuring sustainable revenue streams for the fiscus,” Muswere said.
Beyond cost reduction, the Minister said government will also address regulatory duplication, which has increased compliance costs and complexity for operators.
“Government will also streamline duplicative and overlapping licences and permits,” he noted.
He said the process will now move into a technical refinement phase involving further consultations among key ministries before final approval by Cabinet.
“There will be further refinement and consultations by the Ministries of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services; Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services; and Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, before final approval by Cabinet,” Muswere stated.
The review is expected to contribute to improved affordability of communication services, support digital transformation and enhance the competitiveness of Zimbabwe’s telecommunications and broadcasting sectors.
