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Thupeyo Muleya
THE Government is working on reviewing regulations prohibiting Zimbabweans based abroad from investing in community radio stations as part of efforts to address sustainability challenges they face.
This was said by the Permanent Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Mr Nick Mangwana, during an online radio interview at the Community Radios Fair in Harare yesterday.
The fair was organised by the National Association of Community Broadcasters which represents the 14 licensed community radio stations.
The programme was supported by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Zimbabwe Office.
“This was a successful event and I went to every stall manned by the radio stations and their challenges to do with sustainability are cross cutting.
“The biggest opportunity that community radio stations give is the mainstreaming of cultural practices and development. Previously, there was no opportunity for communities to broadcast in their languages,” said Mr Mangwana.
“You know what you want to talk about in your communities so it is up to them to talk about issues in their languages and propose solutions.
“This is not coming from the centre, it’s not coming from Harare. You know what you want to mainstream and it is your call as a community.”
Government was looking at reviewing some laws prohibiting the support of the diaspora community to radio stations.
“It’s not allowed for people based outside to contribute to community radio stations. By definition, it’s called foreign funding but then we are a listening Government so we are going to review that law to allow the diaspora community to contribute towards the sustainability of the radio stations in their home areas.”
Mr Mangwana said the involvement of locals based outside the country had worked well for Radio Bukalanga in Plumtree, where at its launch, it had received a cumulative total of R250 000 from people from that area who are based outside the country.
He said the Government could not criminalise good behavior when people wante to see their communities grow adding that a number of radio stations were struggling with sustainability issues.
“This cannot happen when there are a number of sons and daughters from those areas who are willing to help. They should be allowed to help and we will make that happen,” said Mr Mangwana.
The Community Radios Fair, he said, was a brilliant idea for peer reviews, showing unity and speaking with one voice.
The Government wanted to see more of these fairs yearly.
“The communities are owners of these radios regardless of who applied to the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ).
“The Government is here to support the community radio stations and our communities. Our desire is that none of them will close down for lack of sustainability.”
“None of them will be closed for breaking the law because they will stay within the law.”
Mr Mangwana said the Government intended to licence more community radio stations.
Online Reporter