The Sunday News
Limukani Ncube, Editor
COMMUNITY radio is one of the most effective means and alternative form of communication for the development of rural communities especially in social participation, information, and advice on literacy, health, child care, improved agricultural methods, vocational training, and protection of the environment. The programme of community radios is geared towards promoting community development and social empowerment of its audience, at least according to Fraser and Estrada (2002).
In addition, community radios are advised to use participatory development communication that is need-oriented, endogenous, self-reliant, and ecologically sound and based on participatory democracy and transformations Servaes (1996).
The apt explanations of what a community radio should do to a particular community as articulated above by scholars in the field of communication and development serve to further elaborate on the government’s socio-economic development blueprint, National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) , which in turn feeds into the broader Vision 2030 which is geared to turn the country into an upper middle-income economy.
Further, a community radio, is by design owned by the community with programmes designed for that particular community and the language used is the “mother tongue” of that community. What can come from outside is expertise and funding. A community radio also reflects and promotes local identity, character and culture. It focuses on local content and local voices to encourage open dialogue, democratic process, promotes social change and development as well as good governance. It is different from a public broadcaster or commercial broadcaster in that if chases no profits. It is simply for the community, by the community and the concept speaks to the devolution agenda that has been promoted by the Second Republic under President Mnangagwa.
The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) recently announced the licensing of eight community radio stations across the country such as Matobo Community Radio Trust, Ndau Community Radio Trust, Chimanimani Community Radio Trust, Twasumpuka Community Radio Trust, Radio BuKalanga (Pvt) Ltd, Vemuganga Community Radio Trust, Madziwa Community Radio Trust and Patsaka Nyaminyami Community Radio Trust trading as Kasambabezi FM. To date 14 community radio stations have been licensed and a number of campus radio stations have been licensed at Great Zimbabwe University, Lupane State University, National University of Science and Technology and Harare Polytechnic.
The development was celebrated across the country and beyond, with the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zimbabwe saying the move will enhance access to information and exchange of ideas on issues that affect marginalised communities for the government’s attention. It added that the national geographic spread of the licensed stations is also of vital importance at a time when the country is fighting the spread of the deadly Covid-19 pandemic.
“With community radio stations restricted from operating for profit, it is imperative for government to come up with a sustainable policy framework on how these outfits can remain financially viable without compromising their editorial independence, once they start broadcasting.”
Radio BuKalanga representative Mr Sotsha Moyo, a musician with Black Umfolosi who has also released some solo Kalanga tracks, said the radio station will be critical in the development of the community.
“BuKalanga Radio Station means a lot to us as BaKalanga. It provides us with a great platform to share development ideas. It provides us space to share ideas and track information lacking within us and the revival of our language which is dying will be brought to light,” he told our sister paper, Chronicle.
Matobo Community Radio Trust (Bayethe FM), chairman Mr Zenzo Ncube said the area in Matabeleland South province has for years remained without radio signals.
“Getting a radio licence for us is a major community development and achievement. Our community has had poor radio reception for a long time. We hope to close that gap once we go live,” he was quoted as saying by local media.
He said the licensed area covers a 50km radius from Maphisa, Mangwe and Brunapeg and will broadcast in local languages like Ndebele and Kalanga.
Twasumbuka FM chairman Mr Sam Sibanda said the station will spur economic development in Binga, Matabeleland North, and help keep the Tonga language alive.
Beitbridge Community Radio, which will broadcast primarily in Venda language will tell the stories from that Matabeleland South area that also has Sotho speakers, among others.
Lyeja Nyani Development Trust Station will serve communities in Hwange and parts of Victoria Falls, which languages like Nambya expected to feature predominantly.
In December last year, three community radio stations were licenced, namely Ntepe Manama Radio Trust covering Manama in Gwanda and Legion Mine 3, Nyangani FM covering Rukotso and Susamoya (Manicaland province) as well as Inqanga FM based in Mbembesi (Matabeleland North), which is a predominately Xhosa speaking community. Chiredzi Community Development Radio (Avuxeni FM) has also been licenced in the province of Masvingo.
BAZ acting chief executive officer, Matthius Chakanyuka said the licenced stations should be operational within 18 months, failure of which the licences would be revoked as stipulated by the Broadcasting Services Act. Some of the infrastructure will come from government.
The Zimbabwe Association of Community Radio Stations (Zacras) said the licensing was a positive step towards the achievement of broadcasting diversity and plurality. Zacras chairperson Ms Perlagia Kapuya said they have been advocating for the licensing of community radio stations in Zimbabwe.
“We urge government to continue licensing more diverse players until each and every district in Zimbabwe has its own community radio station. This will not only promote access to information, but also enhances free expression as envisioned in the Constitution of Zimbabwe.”
Minister Mutsvangwa is on record as saying her ministry has grasped and embraced the importance of radio, as it is a right for the people of Zimbabwe. She is on record as saying the licensing of community radio stations was a priority agenda for the ministry in line with the Devolution agenda pushed by the Second Republic.
Minister Mutsvangwa
“His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government adopted devolution as one of its flagship policies in the Second Republic. We believe that everyone should have access to information. We realised that for everyone to participate in development, more so at a devolved level, their voices should be heard.”
Evidence gathered by the Information and Media Panel of Inquiry (IMPI), Minister Mutsvangwa said, was that radio was the most popular platform of information in Zimbabwe, particularly in rural communities.
“To develop at grassroots level, people should take pride in their communities and inculcate a sense of community that propels them to take ownership of their own development. Community radios will play a critical role. For this reason, there is no turning back on rolling out community stations.”
The Sadc region has embraced community radios to improve communication in rural areas with a special focus on women, with South Africa leading with over 200 of such radio stations. Over half of the radio stations in Zambia are small FM stations, which are often hybrids of community-commercial, and Malawi has over 24 community radio stations and has used them as a tool for rural development and community engagement. Namibia Communications Commission has licensed more than ten community radio stations.
President Mnangagwa has always said that the policy thrust of his government is to leave no one behind in terms of development, and the licensing of more community radios is “walking” that talk.
