Sundaymail Editor
Beitbridge Bureau
COMMUNITY-BASED radio stations are vital to development and will help Government implement the devolution programme, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa has said.
She made the remarks yesterday during the launch of Beitbridge’s community radio station, which broadcasts mainly in the Tshi Venda language.
The launch was held concurrently with the belated World Radio Day celebrations, which took place at Dulivhadzimu Stadium.
Beitbridge Shashe Community Radio Station, popularly known as Lotsha FM, is found on the 90.1 frequency and covers a radius of 60 km from the border town.
Minister Mutsvangwa said community-based radio stations are a special-purpose vehicle to drive development from the grassroots level in line with devolution.
“Community radio stations play a pivotal role in creating a vibrant community that share their heritage, culture, innovation and industry.
“In a nutshell, community radio stations are the ‘go-to sources’ of Government projects, policies and vision. These will disseminate economic and social information related to improving livelihoods,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
She said the days of Zimbabweans relying on content from foreign countries are over, as the Second Republic has opened up airwaves and licensed 14 community-based radio stations to broadcast in their own languages.
“We have had a situation where communities in borderlines had struggled to receive radio signals and access domestic content from Zimbabwe. As the Second Republic, we have turned another page and have licensed 14 community-based radio stations to give our citizens across the country a voice.
“Every community should access content on various issues — including Government programmes, community development, public health and crime, among other things — in their own language.”
Government, she added, is doubling down on its digitisation policy to ensure broadcasting coverage countrywide.
“Indeed, community radio platforms have become a key historical mark of His Excellency, President Mnangagwa’s Second Republic. True to his promise of servant leadership and being a listening President, he listened and granted you the community radio station you applied for. To give a context to this day, let me say, the World Radio Day celebrates radio as the mass medium of communication, which has the greatest and widest audience reach in the world.”
World Radio Day, she said, was set aside to celebrate radio broadcasting, as well as improve international cooperation among radio broadcasters.
The Beitbridge community commended Government for fulfilling pre-election promises made in 2018 of opening up airwaves to more players.
Mr Ntshavheni Simutha Ndou said the launch of the radio station was a historic milestone for the Beitbridge community.
“We are grateful to Government. This is a dream come true for most of us,” he said.
A presenter at Lotsha FM, Mrs Babongile Mudau Gora, said the opening of a new radio station had created opportunities for presenters, artistes and journalists to nurture their talents.
Online Reporter