Chronicle Editor
Bongani Ndlovu, Chronicle Reporter
LYEJA-NYAYI Community Radio Station in Hwange District in Matabeleland North is set to start broadcasting before the December 10 deadline.
The radio station will broadcast in Nambya, Tonga and Dombe, covering Hwange and Victoria Falls.
Last year, the Government licensed 14 radio stations, seven of which are in Matabeleland North and South provinces.
The seven community radio stations are Radio BuKalanga (Bulilima), Matobo Community Radio Trust (Maphisa, Mangwe and Brunapeg), Twasumbuka Community Radio Trust (Binga, Kamativi and Siabuwa), Mbembesi Development Trust, trading as Ingqanga FM, Ntepe Manama Community Radio Trust and Shashe Community Radio Station, which covers Shashe in Beitbridge District and Lyeja-Nyayi Community Radio Station.
When Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Deputy Minister Kindness Paradza visited all the community radio stations in April, most of them had not started operating.
He pledged Government support to community radio stations that were struggling to get the requisite equipment.
In June, some radio stations representatives said renovations had started at various buildings identified, while others had not done anything, citing financial constraints.
Last month, Ntepe Manama Community Radio Trust in the Gwanda area started broadcasting in Sesotho.
Lyeja-Nyayi Development Trust station co-ordinator Mr Thulani Munyandi said by December 10 the station will be on air.
“I’m sure by end of November the structure will be ready for the installation of studio equipment. Thereafter the transmission equipment will be given to us by the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe and I’m sure by
December 10 we will be on air,” he said.
Mr Munyandi said the community in Hwange has been helpful in terms of funding to refurbish their building.
“As a community, we collected US$425 that was used to fix part of the roof at the structure that was set aside for us. At the moment we are continuing with the collection of money from the community,” he said.
Twasumbuka Community Radio station manager, Mr Baido Ndlovu said they are yet to secure premises to operate from.
“We applied to be housed at the Govera section of the District Development Fund properties in Binga and we are waiting for a response from the authorities,” he said.
“At the moment we are working from the Roman Catholic church offices while we wait to get the space at Govera. Once we secure our own space, we will then bring studio equipment from Harare.”
He said training of human resources have been done with radio programmes now being produced for the community.
“There has been training of citizen journalists, the station manager and those who will be involved in marketing. We have a WhatsApp group where radio shows that are produced are shared on that platform with the community as we await to go on air in seven months,” said Mr Ndlovu.
In Plumtree, Radio BuKalanga has secured premises at the Country Club in the border town. The senior programmes officer Ms Yvonne Tshedu Buzwane, said the building is being refurbished.
“The radio station has taken over the recreational centre and we have started refurbishing the place,” she said.
Radio BuKalanga will operate within a 40km radius from Plumtree Town covering Ndolwane and Empandeni areas. The radio station will start operating in the next six months.
Ms Buzwane said the radio station is engaging communities around the 22 wards within the 40km radius.
“Simultaneously, we are holding community engagements where ward committees have been set up. This is to raise awareness about the radio station in the community and telling them how it will serve them,” she said.
“Presenters have been identified, some have been trained but more will be done in due course.”
In line with the devolution policy, community radio stations give a voice to people who lack access to mainstream media, expedite information dissemination and uphold creative growth and democracy at community level. – @bonganinkunzi
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