Zimbabwe starts charging car owners for radio licenses
Zimbabwe has passed a new law that requires all car owners to pay an annual fee to use their radios.
The rule was signed into law by President Emmerson Mnangagwa on 23 May 2025, local reports say.
Under the new law, motorists must pay US$92 each year for a radio licence.
This amount must be paid before drivers can renew their vehicle licence discs or register for insurance. The fee is part of the Broadcasting Services Amendment Act, which aims to raise money for the state-owned Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC).
The government expects the move to generate millions of dollars in revenue.
Zimbabwe has about 1.2 million registered vehicles, and could earn around US$73 million per year if only 800,000 drivers comply.
However, the new policy has sparked criticism.
Many Zimbabweans say the licence fee is too high, especially in a country already facing economic challenges.
Opposition politicians and motorists have also argued that the ZBC focuses more on promoting the ruling party than serving the public with balanced news and information.
