De-mystifying problematics of Zimbabwe’s broadcasting frequencies spectrum allocation: case of free-to air digital terrestrial television licensing

Abstract

Although Zimbabwe opened its airwaves to private players in 2002, broadcasting spectrum frequency licensing has remained contentious with some stakeholders arguing the process lacks transparency and is deceptive to media reform. We therefore seek to answer two key questions in this article: What are the impediments encountered in liberating the broadcasting industry in Zimbabwe since independence? To what extent is Zimbabwe’s broadcasting frequency spectrum licensing regime transparent, open and participatory? The article analyses if the licensing regimen meets International Telecommunications Union (ITU), continental and regional benchmarks of transparency, openness, fairness and inclusivity in allocation and assignment of frequencies. It investigates and unpacks policies and principles concerning frequency spectrum allocation for broadcasting in Zimbabwe. Documentary analysis is employed in examining policy documents which outline terms of reference and requirements for frequency spectrum allocation. We also conducted in-depth interviews with broadcasting policy makers and industrial voices such as applicants who were denied licenses. Four stations (two awarded and two denied) licenses and were purposively sampled for in-depth interviews. Findings in this study reveal that the adjudication and scoring of the licensees is not transparent, neither is it open and bidders do not have a say in the licensing process. Whilst the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe and the Postal Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe admit that final adjudication is done by the authorities, they still claim that the Zimbabwean licensing model is open, transparent and participatory.

KEYTERMS:

• Allocation
• broadcasting
• license
• policy
• spectrum frequency
• terrestrial

REVIEWING EDITOR:

• Lincoln Geraghty, School of Media and Performing Art, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom

SUBJECTS:

• Filmmaking and Postproduction; Media Communication; Photography; Broadcast Media; Film Studies; Media & Communications; Journalism & Professional Media

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Tichaona Zinhumwe

Tichaona Zinhumwe is a Ph.D. student in Film and Television at the University of Johannesburg. He is a Lecturer at Great Zimbabwe University where he teaches Investigative Journalism, Television and Radio Journalism in the English and Media Studies Department. His research interests cover television and radio talk shows, news and current affairs programming and Investigative Journalism. His desire is to discover how television and radio talk shows can be harnessed to create a genuine democratic dispensation in Zimbabwe. He is also interested not only in linguistic research of broadcast discourses in genres such as news and current affairs, but would also want to unravel the semiotic pictorial and visual discourses of television images and how they contribute to telling the television story.

Gift Gwindingwe

Gift Gwindingwe (PhD) is a Media and Cultural Studies lecturer at Great Zimbabwe University, Mashava Campus. He holds a PhD in Communication from the University of Fort Hare, South Africa. He is a former member of the Research Committee and currently a member of the Great Zimbabwe University International Relations Committee. He has published papers in local (South African) accredited journals. On invitation by Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education, he has also done reviews for Media and Journalism programmes for local universities. His research interests are in the following areas: Cultural Studies, Post-colonialism, Politics and the pervasive nature of digital media in shaping today’s communication terrain.