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Herald Reporter
The Zimbabwe Media Commission has licen-sed three additional media organisations which include a new daily newspaper, expected to hit the streets soon.
ZMC chairperson Mr Godfrey Majonga confirmed the licensing of the Daily Mail, a daily newspaper, Farmers Guardian and a news agency.
The Daily Mail is owned by Boka Investments, a business entity established by the late indigenous entrepreneur, Mr Roger Boka.
Asked if the new players would not flood the media industry, which has seen several newspapers and magazines being licensed, Mr Majonga said he hoped this would bring competition among new and existing publications.
“It will just bring competition, it will also provide employment and equally important it will improve the level of professionalism and quality of the products,” said Mr Majonga.
ZMC, which is a constitutional body that was constituted by Parliament, has licensed several newspapers and magazines since last year, some of which are still to start publishing.
Some of the publications licensed include NewsDay, The Daily Gazette and The Daily News.
Only NewsDay has started publishing.
Mr Majonga urged those media organisations that had not started publishing to approach the commission to explain what challenges, if any they were facing.
“We are appealing to those who have not started producing to come forward and tell us why they are not publishing,” he said.
In a related matter, the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe has invited applications for the provision of diffusion, railcasting, and webcasting and broadcasting services in terms of the Broadcasting Services Act.
In a statement, BAZ chief executive officer Mr Obert Muganyura said persons wishing to provide these services should submit their applications for processing of licences.
“The authority would like to urge those persons and businesses already providing such services without a licence to regularise their position immediately.
“The authority also wishes to advise members of the public that it is an offence for any person to provide any service which falls within the definition of broadcasting service or to operate as a signal carrier for the purposes of transmitting a broadcasting service without a licence issued by the authority.”
Application forms can be collected from BAZ, the Media Centre at the Rainbow Towers and the authority will receive the applications throughout the year.