ZBC to Conduct Door-to-Door Licence Checks in Borrowdale

The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) will conduct door-to-door inspections of television and radio licences at Borrowdale Brooke Village in Harare from September 7 to September 18.

The exercise was announced in a letter sent to the residential estate's management, with ZBC licensing inspectors expected to visit individual households to verify whether residents hold valid broadcasting licences. The inspections will target households with television and radio sets and check whether the required licences have been obtained and remain valid.

Residents without licences, as well as those whose licences have expired, will reportedly be able to purchase or renew them during the exercise. “The Inspectors will be checking for valid ZBC licences and will also be issuing licences to households that have not yet purchased or renewed their licences,” the letter reads. The exercise forms part of efforts by ZBC to improve compliance with broadcasting licence requirements and increase revenue from licence fees.

ZBC Seeks Estate Security Assistance

ZBC has asked Borrowdale Brooke Village management and security personnel to assist its inspectors during the exercise. The broadcaster wants security staff to facilitate access to properties where necessary and ensure that inspectors can conduct their work without disruption. “We kindly request Management and Security to provide the necessary assistance and cooperation to the ZBC licensing Inspectors during the inspection exercise and to facilitate their access where required,” the letter reads. It was not immediately clear how many households are expected to be visited during the two-week exercise.

Residents Question Licence Fees

News of the planned inspections has generated debate on social media, with some Zimbabweans questioning the value they receive from paying ZBC licence fees. Some users argued that they rarely watch or listen to ZBC content, while others questioned why households accessing ZBC television channels through pay-TV platforms such as DStv should separately pay a broadcasting licence fee.

One social-media user wrote: “Imagine paying US$24 for something you don’t even watch or listen to. ZBC, we need answers!” Another questioned why ZBC does not seek revenue from pay-TV platforms where its channels are available. The comments reflect a broader public debate over Zimbabwe's broadcasting licence system, particularly among households that consume television content primarily through satellite and streaming platforms.

However, criticism on social media does not necessarily represent the views of all Borrowdale Brooke residents. The inspections are expected to test how effectively ZBC can enforce licensing requirements in a modern media environment where households increasingly access content through multiple platforms and devices. Residents in the estate are expected to cooperate with the inspectors during the exercise, with those without valid licences given an opportunity to regularise their position.

ZBC licence inspections Borrowdale