PART II
BROADCASTING AUTHORITY OF ZIMBABWE
3
Establishment and functions of Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe
(1) For the purposes of this Act, there is hereby established an authority, to be known
as the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe , which shall be a body corporate capable
of suing and being sued in its corporate na me and, subject to this Act, of performing
all acts that bodies corporate may by law perform.
(2) Subject to this Act, the powers and functions of the Authority shall be—
(a)
to plan and advise on the allocation and di stribution of the available
frequency spectrum, for which purpose it shall have regard to the provisions for the
planning of the broadcasting service bands contained in the First Schedule;
(b)
to advise the Minister on the adoption and establishment of standards
and codes relating to equipment attached to broadcasting systems;
(c)
to receive, evaluate and consider applica tions for the issue of any
broadcasting licence or signal carrier licence for the purpos e of advising the Ministe r
on whether or not he should grant the licence;
(d)
to monitor tariffs charged by broadcasting licensees with a vie w to
eliminating unfair business practices among such licensees and to protect the interests
of consumers;
(e)
to advise the Minister on ways of improving and promoting a
regulatory environment that will facilitate the development of a broadcasting industry
in Zimbabwe that is efficient, competitiv e and responsive to audience needs and the
national interest;
(f)
to encourage diversity in the control of broadcasting services;
(g)
to ensure that Zimbabweans have effec tive control of broadcasting
services or systems;
(h)
to ensure the role of broadcasting services and systems in developing
and reflecting a sense of Zimbabwean identity, character and cultural diversity;
(i)
to promote the provision of high qua lity and innovative programming
by providers of broadcasting services;
( j)
to encourage providers of commercial and community broadcasting
services and systems to be responsive to th e need for a fair and accurate coverage o f
matters of public inte rest and for an appropriate c overage of matters of local
significance;
(k)
to encourage providers of broadcasting services and systems to respect
community standards and values in the provision of programme material;
(l)
to ensure the provision of means for addressing complaints about
broadcasting services;
(m)
to ensure that providers of broadcasting se rvices place a high priority
on the protection of children from exposure to program me material which may be
harmful to them; and
(n)
to ensure compliance with this Act and licence conditions and, where
empowered, to enforce the provisions of this Act;
(o)
to monitor and track the use of the broadcasting service bands;
(p)
generally, to advise the Minister on all matters relating to broadcasting
systems and services;
(q)
subject to this Act, to carry out any function or act as may be
prescribed by the Minister.
(3) In the exercise of its functions the Authority shall have regard to the desirability
of securing the following objects—
(a)
the provision of sufficient broadc asting services throughout
Zimbabwe;
(b)
the promotion of peace, stability and national cohesion through the
provision of broadcasting services;
(c)
ensuring that any person by whom any broadcasting service falls to be