The number of pre-approved applicants for private radio licenses has dwindled from the previously short listed 18 to 13 as it has emerged that most of them cannot pay the hefty fees and levies charged to set up the entities.
BAZ Chief Executive Officer, Obert Muganyura, in a statement said, “The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe wishes to advise the public that out of 18 applicants that had been shortlisted to appear before the authority in public inquiries, six have pulled out.”
The applicants were required to pay $2,500 as non-refundable application fees and then those that were shortlisted were required to pay an additional $7,500. Those whose applications will be successful will pay $50,000.
The applicants that have dropped out are Lupane Radio, Bukisa Services (Lupane), Mosie radio (Victoria Falls), Masego Multi-media (Bulawayo), Vox Media Productions (Harare) and AB Communications of Mutare.
Meanwhile, the BAZ said the public hearing for applicants who had been shotlisted and were supposed to appear on Tuesday will now be moved to a later date.
Many musicians are eagerly expecting the setting up of the radio stations. We spoke to one of the musicians Khulane Betule, also known as Khuxman who says the establishment of Radio Stations is a long-awaited development.
“We hope that the establishment of the radio stations will afford people, especially from the southern part of the country an opportunity to have their music played on radio.”