Online Reporter
Sunday Mail Reporter
MADZIVA FM, a flagship community radio station in Mashonaland Central province, has been directed to restore transparency and accountability or risk losing the trust of the very community it was created to serve.
Licensed by the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) in 2021 and officially launched in 2023, Madziva FM, whose signal now reaches listeners across a 60-kilometre radius, has become the mainstay of local news, culture and public discourse.
However, chiefs and villagers have been voicing concern over the way the station is run.
In a no-holds-barred address to the board, community leaders and traditional chiefs yesterday, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Mr Nick Mangwana said the station belonged to the people.
“I want the community buy-in for this radio station,” Mr Mangwana said.
“I want the community to know their place — that they own this thing.”
The message resonated with Chief Mutumba, the station’s patron, who welcomed Government’s guidance.
“We are happy with the visit of the Permanent Secretary. Alone, we could not have resolved the squabbles among us over the operations of the radio station,” he said.
In response to the Government’s call for transparency, the Madziva FM board has since made a commitment to establish a general council and convene its annual general meeting before year-end, in line with its constitution.
Online Reporter