Zimbabwe set to have international radio station

Kudzai Mpangi, Sunday Life Reporter
IN a move set to revolutionise the local arts industry, Zimbabwean businessman Nkosana Mazibisa is set to launch the first Internet youth radio station dedicated to the youth in the Sadc region on 15 March.

The radio station will be launched in five countries namely Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, South Africa and Swaziland will be accessible via Mobile App, Website, Shout out cast and Tune in.

Following the endless struggles by local youths to break into and reach markets across the borders, Mazibisa who is passionate about the arts felt that creating a platform which transcended the limited reach of traditional radio broadcast signals was the next best initiative in the development of the arts industry.

“We want to expose local talent to become the Sadc talent so that there won’t be a need for Zimbabwean artistes to take music to South Africa for it to be aired as South African citizens will hear the music from local station,” Mazibisa said.

In an effort to make the radio station a reality the 19.0 FM CEO, Mazibisa has taken an initiative in working with some of the renowned radio presenters who include former Skyz Metro FM breakfast show presenter Khayelihle Moyo popularly known as Kya Drastiq who will run the drive time show together with Teejay Twaambo Chingobe from Zambia, a former Zambezi FM presenter.

Asked why he decided to make such a huge move that will benefit not only Zimbabwe as a whole but the Sadc region, Mazibisa said he wanted an initiative that would reach a global audience.

“We ventured into Internet radio because it is not controlled by any legislation in terms of where it can reach. Making it possible to reach a global audience target being the Sadc region for now,” he said.

The station is set to open jobs for presenters and give airplay to artistes to enable them to have an income.

“This project will change the broadcasting space and disrupt the traditional broadcasting industry as we are looking forward to getting revenue from the advertising industry from all the targeted countries especially churches, NGOs and business industry especially among youth businesses,” he said.

The radio station has so far managed to mobilise enterprising young people in Zimbabwe including motivational speaker Njabulo Moyo and Marshal Chiza who will be running a motivational show on the radio.