Herald Reporter
GOVERNMMENT should exempt local newspapers from taxes on inks and newsprint so that they can compete with foreign publications entering the country duty-free. This was said by the chairperson of the

committee on Media, Information and Communication Technologies, Mr Settlement Chikwinya (Redcliff MDC-T), while presenting a report on the state of the media in Zimbabwe.

“The committee recommends that Government should either exempt local media houses from paying duty for ink or newsprint or that newspapers published outside the country should be taxed,” he said.
Mr Chikwinya said during its public hearings on the operations of Zimbabwe Newspapers Group (1980), the company had noted that high excise duties were affecting its

viability while foreign organisations had undue advantage.
Seconding the motion, Mhondoro-Ngezi legislator Cde Bright Matonga, said papers coming here were promoting South African industries.

“We need to see more papers from this country rather than import from South Africa. Those newspapers do not carry any advertisements of local industry but promote their own. They are promoting South African interests and do not have any interest in promoting Zimbabwean issues,” he said.

The committee also noted that titles under Zimpapers were struggling due to obsolete equipment and under-funding due to the harsh economic environment. Turning to Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings, the committee said there was need for the broadcaster to improve its content.

“The public, during the public hearings held in both Harare and Bulawayo, lamented lack of consultation on programmes aired by the public broadcaster. As a result, many viewers have opted for satellite dishes and shun ZTV,” he said.