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Cont Mhlanga
A FEW weeks ago the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) called for applications for metro radio stations across the country from those interested in broadcasting. To all members of Amakhosi Cultural Centre, students, Amakhosi graduates since its first intake in 1982, Bulawayo artists, producers, directors, our valued Amakhosi fans who have supported us over the years, our business partners, the Bulawayo City Council and management who provided us a place to grow our vision and nature the nations under privileged talent when everyone at that time doubted us and the value of our African arts and culture, government departments and agencies that work with us, educational institutions from Grade Zero to universities that work with Amakhosi, our valued media houses, journalists and editors who have continuously written about our successes and failures, our valued civil society, community stakeholders and citizens of Bulawayo, this is a notice to all of you that Amakhosi is leading a partnership of like-minded partners and has set up a company and partnership that will apply for the Bulawayo commercial metro radio station.
Amakhosi has waited patiently for 15 years for this call for a local commercial metro radio station for the City of Bulawayo’s population to come and nearly went on air in 1998.
The opportunity has arrived, doing so at the right time when the country has gone past its political cross roads and is now ready to rise as the continent’s economic giant.
We have since covered a lot of ground work and if we get the licence, Amakhosi and its partners are ready to build a high tech state-of-the-art digital radio broadcasting centre at the North End Shopping Centre in North End suburb north of the city centre.
The structure of the broadcasting venture and its programming structure will be made public soon after the application is launched with the Broadcasting Authority.
However, to allow for your participation and input between now and the 7th of January when applications close, we announce here your new FM Stereo station leadership for your benefit to be able to engage with them and bring ideas of how you want to participate. We have appointed Qhubani Moyo, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Bulawayo’s own metro station.
Moyo was a very familiar face in the country’s political landscape until recently when he quit politics to join the private sector. Like many young people in the country, Moyo came through the Amakhosi family ranks since his high school days and understands Amakhosi’s vision to his bone.
The station manager is talented former ZBC broadcaster Englam Nyathi who will make sure that your FM Stereo station will serve your interests and be the best radio voice in Zimbabwe though just a metro station for Bulawayo only. Englam’s relationship with Amakhosi dates back to his early years at Montrose Studios.
As soon as we get that licence, should the Broadcasting Authority decide so, we will start recruiting fresh young talented radio announcers and put them under an intensive training programme at our Broadcasting Centre under the guidance of veteran broadcasting teachers, Edward Moyo and Amon “Umaqhula Ayibambe” Nyamambi.
Theirs is to train talent and hand it over to the station manager and CEO. Our engineering report informs us that all the Amakhosi fans as far as Inyathi will get the FM Stereo live and direct. Out there in Shangani you will be able to tune into the fun.
Those of our fans in Esigodini and as far as Mbalabala you will be part of the fun. Out there in Maphisa the station will rock you. Figtree, Solusi, Nyamandlovu and Gwayi you will be able to tune in and fans as far as Insuza and Mbembesi will enjoy the new station with all of those in Bulawayo.
We are not stopping with radio as we will be also applying for a TV licence when the time comes for us to be able to bring you our valued fans a total Amakhosi entertainment experience.
It is now just a matter of getting the licence in our hands and come the 1st of June 2014 your station – Esabantu – will be with you wherever you are and wherever you go promoting your business, talent and interests.
Umkhulu Lo Msebenzi!
Online Reporter