Zimbabwe President, Mnangagwa, signs law forcing motorists to buy radio licenses

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has reportedly signed into law a contentious new requirement forcing all Zimbabwean motorists to purchase radio licences before renewing vehicle permits or buying insurance.

The Broadcasting Amendment Act (No 2 of 2025) was gazetted on 23 May, sparking widespread criticism from opposition leaders and car owners across the country.

Under the new law, motorists must pay $23 per quarter or $92 annually for a Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) radio licence, according to Report Focus News.

The measure applies to all vehicle licence renewals, registrations and insurance purchases, with drivers required to present valid ZBC licences or exemption certificates.

Zimbabwe has 1.2 million registered vehicles, though only 800,000 typically renew their licences each year according to the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (ZINARA).

If all complying vehicles pay the fee, ZBC could collect over $73 million annually to support the financially troubled state broadcaster.

Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa condemned the legislation as “too draconian, anti-citizens and outrightly heartless” in a post on X.

“So a person who owns a car pays ZINARA, ZBC, insurance and toll fees, how are people supposed to survive?” Chamisa asked, criticising what he called “partisan propaganda, where I am attacked in person and demonised from dawn to dusk”.

ZBC had previously deployed inspectors to fine owners of cars whose radios were broken or incompatible with local frequencies.

Government officials defend the measure as necessary to fund public broadcasting services.

Information Minister, Jenfan Muswere, announced the amendment following cabinet approval earlier this year, saying it would broaden ZBC’s revenue base while modernizing broadcasting regulations.

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