ZNBC Act set for amendment
By Paul Shalala
Information and Media Minister CORNELIUS MWEETWA says the proposed amendment of the ZNBC Act will lead to its transformation into a true public service broadcaster with a stable financial base.
Mr. MWEETWA, who is also Chief Government Spokesperson, says this transformation will see ZNBC being professional, fair and allowing people of Zambia to have free flow of information.
He says the current ZNBC Act was carefully crafted by people who wanted the national broadcaster to serve their political interests.
In a speech read on his behalf by Information and Media Permanent Secretary THABO KAWANA during the presentation of two layman’s draft bills for the ZNBC and the Independent Broadcasting Authority-IBA Acts in Lusaka, Mr. MWEETWA thanked the Technical Working
Group which reviewed the two acts and made progressive proposals.
He welcomed the proposal for the replacement of the TV Levy with the Broadcast Levy saying it will fund the national broadcaster well.
Mr. MWEETWA also welcomed the proposal for industry players to nominate board members for ZNBC and IBA.
And Mr. KAWANA said the proposed amendment to the ZNBC Act will regularise the operations of state owned broadcasters such as ZANIS TV, Parliament TV and Education Television Services.
In a speech read on his behalf by Director Press and Media Development in the Ministry of Information and Media MODERN MAYEMBE, Mr. KAWANA said state broadcasters currently have no legal backing.
He said the revised ZNBC Act will allow these broadcasters to have legal standing.
And Technical Working Group Chairperson MOFFAT BILI said the Broadcast Levy which is being proposed to replace the TV Levy will also incorporate a Radio Levy.
Mr. BILI said the Broadcast Levy will generate enough revenue for ZNBC.
He also disclosed that the proposed amendment to the IBA Act will see the IBA regulating online television stations which currently are not regulated.
Mr. BILI said the IBA proposals also include provisions for ZNBC to be regulated by IBA.
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