NACB hosts second annual community radio fair in Harare

The National Association of Community Broadcasters (NACB) will host its Second Annual Community Radio Fair in Harare on Thursday, focusing on the challenges faced by community radio stations and the opportunities they present to various stakeholders.

The event, to be held at the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) offices in Belgravia, is expected to create a national-level platform that connects community radios with a broad range of actors through interactive sessions, exhibitions, live broadcasting, and dialogue.

According to NACB Coordinator Ms Yvonne Tshedu Buzwane, the 2025 edition builds on the momentum of the inaugural fair held last year and comes with a renewed focus on strengthening alliances and amplifying the role of community radios in driving social impact.

“This year’s Fair, under the theme ‘Building Alliances for Social Impact’, recognises community radio stations (CRS) as grounded, people-centred platforms that foster public participation, deepen community engagement, and promote social change,” she said.

“By intentionally bringing together actors who may not ordinarily intersect—such as feminist organisations, government, development partners, civil society, and the informal sector—the Fair aims to ignite new collaborations and strengthen Zimbabwe’s community media movement.”
Ms Buzwane noted that the Fair provides a rare opportunity for CRS, many of which operate in isolation and with limited resources, to increase their visibility, forge new partnerships, and contribute to their long-term sustainability.

“This year’s event will feature nine community radio stations, selected for their active engagement in NACB initiatives over the past year.” she said.
The one-day event will include interactive exhibitions, a collaborative live broadcast space, a “Sip and Paint” session with feminist organisations, and a panel discussion informed by Open Space dialogue. Key themes include gender justice, community radio sustainability, and showcasing success stories from across the stations.

“Gender justice is a cross-cutting theme in this year’s Fair. Community radios are uniquely positioned to amplify women’s voices, challenge gender-based exclusion, and promote feminist narratives at the grassroots level,” Ms Buzwane added.

The fair will also include screenings of impactful case studies that demonstrate how CRS amplify marginalized voices and drive local transformation.

@themkhust