Online Reporter
Ray Bande in GARAHWA, Chipinge
GOVERNMENT is set to invite applications for community radio station licences, chief director in the Ministry of Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services, Mr Jonathan Gandari has revealed.
Speaking during a tour of Ndau Community Radio Station in Garahwa, Chipinge South Constituency, Mr Gandari confirmed that the advertisement for community radio stations will soon be published.
“The Government, under the Second Republic, has made a deliberate move to open up the airwaves to enable full participation of all citizens in the national development discourse. This is also aimed at enhancing our cultural and social heritage as Zimbabweans through languages used in these community radio stations.
“So far we have 14 community radio stations apart from the existing national State-owned and private radio stations. We will soon be availing more opportunities in that sector by inviting applications for those with potential to participate in radio content production as well as broadcasting services,” said Mr Gandari.
Mr Gandari hailed the progress made in establishing Ndau FM, citing its unique use of solar power as an outstanding feature.
Transmedia Corporation chief executive, Engineer Adonia Mashosho highlighted the impact of a newly established multipurpose communication tower in the area.
The tower has enabled mobile phone network providers to bring connectivity to the area, ensuring that residents can access local networks and participate in national development discourse.
“We all know that people in this area used to buy Mozambican mobile phone lines because the local network signal was not accessible. Therefore, the establishment on this tower enabled us to invite mobile phone network providers to bring connectivity to villagers in this area to access local networks like NetOne and Econet as well as radio signal, so that they can effectively participate in national development discourse,” he said.
