Zimbabwe Bans Ads for Prophets and Traditional Healers
Zimbabwe Bans Ads for Prophets and Traditional Healers
The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) has once again banned radio and TV stations from airing adverts for prophets and traditional healers. A similar ban was issued in 2018 but was mostly ignored by broadcasters.
In a recent statement, BAZ’s Chief Executive Officer, Engineer Tendai Kapumha, reminded radio and TV stations to stop running adverts from churches and traditional healers. He stressed that the ban also covers traditional herbs and medicines that lack scientific proof and could mislead the public.
“This letter serves to remind you of the Authority’s directive to all broadcasters to stop the broadcasting of advertising content from churches and traditional healers and of traditional herbs and medicines which cannot be authenticated, since they tend to mislead the public,” part of the statement reads.
Kapumha explained that the ban aligns with the Broadcasting Services (Code of Conduct for Broadcasters) Regulations, 2023, and the Broadcasting Services (Licensing and Content) Regulations, 2004.
Zimbabwe Bans Ads for Prophets and Traditional Healers
These rules require BAZ to protect consumers from misleading content.
“Considering the Authority’s mandate to protect the interests of consumers, account being taken of the prohibition of such advertisements and infomercials in terms of Section 23 (a) & (b) of the Broadcasting Services (Code of Conduct for Broadcasters) Regulations, 2023, as read with section 27(4)(e) of the Broadcasting Services (Licensing and Content) Regulations, 2004, all broadcasters are directed to discontinue the broadcasting of such content,” Kapumha added.
However, Kapumha clarified that the ban only applies to advertisements and does not extend to talk shows or discussions about churches, traditional healers, or traditional medicine.
Enzo Ishall's Ngoro Song Banned by BAZ
“Please note that this directive does not stop the broadcasting of discussion programmes or debates which do not contain advertising content on these issues,” the statement concludes.
