BROADCASTING SERVICES ACT [CHAPTER 12:06] (as at 11th January 2008) (iii) programmes on matters of local, national, regional and international interest or significance; so as to foster and maintain a healthy plural democracy; and (e) to promote public, commercial and community broadcasting services in the interest of the public; and (f) to ensure the independence, impartiality and viability of public broadcasting services; and (g) to ensure the application of standards that provide adequate protection against— (i) the inclusion of material that is harmful or offensive to members of the public; and (ii) unfair treatment of individuals in television or radio programmes; and (iii) unwarranted infringements of privacy resulting from activities carried on for the purposes of television or radio programmes; and (h) to ensure that broadcasting licences 12 adhere to a code of conduct acceptable to the Authority. (2) The Authority, the Minister and all other persons required or permitted to exercise functions under this Act shall pay regard to the objectives set out in subsection (1) when exercising those functions. PART II BROADCASTING AUTHORITY OF ZIMBABWE 3 Establishment and functions of Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (1) For the purposes of this Act, there is hereby established an authority, to be known as the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe, which shall be a body corporate capable of suing and being sued in its corporate name and, subject to this Act, of performing all acts that bodies corporate may by law perform. (2) Subject to this Act, the powers and functions of the Authority shall be⎯ (a) to plan and advise on the allocation and distribution of the available frequency spectrum, for which purpose it shall have regard to the provisions for the planning of the broadcasting service bands contained in the First Schedule; (b) to advise the Minister on the adoption and establishment of standards and codes relating to equipment attached to broadcasting systems; (c) to receive, evaluate and consider applications for the issue of any broadcasting licence or signal carrier licence13; (d) to monitor tariffs charged by broadcasting licensees with a view to eliminating unfair business practices among such licensees and to protect the interests of consumers; (e) to advise the Minister on ways of improving and promoting a regulatory environment 12 13 Should be "licensees". Veritas. Paragraph amended by section 4 of Act 19/2007. - 10 -