Analysis on mandatory vehicle radio licence

Government has recently on 23 May 2025 put into law the Broadcasting Services Amendment Act (No. 2 of 2025) mandating all motorists to obtain the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) radio license, when renewing vehicle insurance or obtain a vehicle license disc. The changes, which were recently approved by Parliament, pegs private vehicle license fee at US$23 per quarter, amounting to US$92 per year; whilst radio license for corporate owned vehicles were set at US$50 per quarter, amounting to an annual fee of US$200.

Initial reactions to the law have been that the proposed figures are too high for private motorists and the corporate actors, especially given the difficult economic situation prevailing in the country. For instance, if a company has five (5) vehicles, then it has to part with US$1000 per year for the radio license before even taking into consideration the costs of insurance and the ZINARA license.

This figure is even much higher for those companies operating large fleets of vehicles. This then put an additional burden to economic actors already reeling under escalating costs of compliance to regulations.