Mozambique: Government launches public debate on new Broadcasting Bill

The Mozambican government, through its Information Office (GABINFO) launched in Maputo on 5 May 2010, a public debate on the new Broadcasting Law to be introduced in the country.

On 6 May 2010 the Mozambican News Agency (AIM), reported that the debate will be extended to all Mozambican provinces, with the aim of gathering different viewpoints to improve the proposed Bill, particularly on the articles still open for discussion.

 According to a copy of the proposed Bill seen by AIM, there are still open for debate articles concerning definitions, objectives, principles, concession of commercial broadcasting services through public tenders and reasons for refusal of new license applications.

Mozambican Prime Minister Aires Ali, who opened the first debate, said that the government's decision to draft a specific law to regulate the broadcasting sector in Mozambique arises from the fact that the existing Broadcasting Law is out of step with reality, taking into account the growth of the communications sector in the last few years.

"The decision of our government also arises due to advances made in the broadcasting sector as a direct result of massification in the use of new information and communication technologies," said the Prime Minister.

He said that the adoption of a new regulating framework for the broadcasting sector will improve the quality of services rendered to the general public.

"From one hand, we believe that the adoption of a new Broadcasting Law will pave the way for the introduction of new rules concerning the licensing process of this sector, and on the other it will help regulate the sector, thereby improving quality of the programmes, increase competition and respect of human rights", added the Prime Minister.

The debate is the culmination of a long process started in 2007, and discontinued in February 2008.
 
The current stage of public debate on the new Broadcasting Bill is being conducted by GABINFO, in partnership with other institutions such as the Supreme Council for Social Communication (CSCS), National Communications Institute of Mozambique (INCM), the National Forum of Community Radios, the Mozambican Chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA-Mozambique), the National Union of Journalists (SNJ) and the Association of Journalistic Companies (AEJ).

Once completed, the Bill will be submitted to the Council of Ministers (Cabinet) for approval and it is expected that later this year submitted to the Assembly of the Republic, the Mozambican Parliament.

- May 07, 2010 by Reagan Malumo
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Source: www.misa.org (received via Email Alert on 07.05.2010)