(Last Updated on December 18, 2020 by GERALD NCUBE)
HARARE – The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) announced the granting of licences to three community radio stations – the first-ever community radio stations in the country.
Mbembesi Development Trust which will be trading as Ingqanga FM, Ntepe Manana Community Radio Trust and Nyangani Community Radio Trust, trading as Nyangani FM are the three entities that received licences to operate.
“The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe wishes to advise members of the public that the Authority has completed the processing of applications for the provision of Community Radio Broadcasting Services in those areas that were not being competed for.
“The Authority invited applications for the provision of Community Radio Service licenses in February 2020, and received a total of twenty (20) applications in all ten (10) areas invited for…
“The Authority has completed the processing of the applications for those areas with no competition, namely, Manama, Mbembesi and Nyanga and wishes to advise that the following three (3) Applicants have been awarded Community Radio Service Licences;
• Mbembesi Development Trust T/A Ingqanga FM covering Mbembesi
• Ntepe Manama Community Radio Trust covering Manama and Legion Mine.
•Nyangani Community Radio Trust T/A Nyangani FM covering Rukotso and Mudzi.
Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zimbabwe which has been advocating media freedoms in the country including pushing the government to implement the three-tier system in the media has welcomed this development.
“MISA Zimbabwe welcomes the licensing of the country’s first-ever three community radio stations as a step in the right direction towards opening up the broadcasting sector to new players.
“This should go a long way in enhancing citizens’ right to access to information on socio-economic developments and issues of concern in their respective communities in the spirit of accountable and responsive governance,” said MISA Zimbabwe.
Recently government also granted licences to private players in the television sector.