AudiencScapes

A handful of community radio stations are gearing up to report news for and by the people, when and if they are ever allowed to broadcast. Despite the fact that the dysfunctional government is dragging its feet on opening Zimbabwe’s airwaves, community radio stations are reporting news and getting it to citizens through alternative means.

By Tawanda Karombo

Harare, Zimbabwe— Community Radio Harare (CORAH), an independent radio initiative based in the capital city, is pioneering private broadcasting in Zimbabwe despite facing numerous operational constraints. Its biggest obstacle remains the fact that the government will not grant it a broadcast license.

The government’s resistance to issuing new broadcast licenses has forced CORAH to be creative in fulfilling its mission of bringing alternative points of view to the people of Zimbabwe. CORAH has managed to survive by reaching out to its audience with CDs containing radio documentaries and a newsletter, “Talking Harare,” that reports on general news topics and policy issues that affect Harare residents.

CORAH is one of 10 community radio initiatives operating in Zimbabwe. The others are in Bulawayo, Gweru, Kwekwe, Hwange, Kariba, Masvingo, Mutare and Kadoma. Last week, the Media Institute of Southern Africa Zimbabwe said it had provisionally established the first rural community radio station, based in Gwanda, one of Zimbabwe’s smaller towns. They are all awaiting official permission from the government to broadcast in the form of a license.

Of Zimbabwe’s community radio stations, CORAH is the most active. Givemore Chipere, CORAH’s Communications and Advocacy Director, believes community radio stations play an important role in a building a free and open society. The participatory approach of community radio stations, in contrast to traditional media, allows ordinary people to become news makers. “They (people) don't become mere media product recipients but news makers who play a crucial role in information dissemination and consumption,” said Chipere.

Obstacles to Community Radio Broadcasts

The much-anticipated opening of the airwaves in Zimbabwe appears to be on hold as the coalition government continues to stall on media reform. Pessimism about Zimbabwe’s restrictive broadcast environment has only deepened after reports earlier this month  of fresh bickering and disagreements between Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. The inability of the coalition government to function dampens the hopes that it will enact promised reforms, like issuing broadcast licenses.

Despite Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara (leader of the MDC’s smaller faction) agreeing to appoint the board of the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ), there have not been concrete efforts toward this crucial step. Under Zimbabwe’s laws, BAZ will handle applications and give licenses for private radio and television stations. It is hoped that once the BAZ board has been appointed it will call for applications for broadcasting licenses. Until then, state-controlled television and radio continue to monopolize Zimbabwe’s airwaves.

Bringing Independent Voices to the Airwaves

CORAH started broadcasting in 2003 but was officially registered as a trust organization in 2006. A trust organization is a nongovernmental organization that registers assets and resources for future use.

Chipere said the station is partnering with the Media Institute of Southern Africa, which has embarked on a “free the airwaves” campaign, in “advocacy and lobbying” efforts to get people to understand how community radio stations operate. Efforts are also underway to pressure media “policymakers to license” CORAH and other private broadcasters.

Chipere notes that CORAH faces a plethora of challenges, including “inadequate equipment” and “finance problems.” Despite funding problems, Chipere said the organization is all but ready to go on air once granted an operating license. “We have got the necessary equipment needed to go on air once we get licensed.”

Chipere said community radio stations such as CORAH ensure a thriving democracy capable of discussing issues of significance to all of its citizens. “Community radio stations play a pivotal role in shaping a democratic society as it enables local people to have control over means of communication,” he said.

Tawanda Karombo is a freelance journalist living in Zimbabwe. He has previously written for The Financial Gazette (Business and Financial Weekly in Zimbabwe), MoneyWeb (South African Investment and Financial web publication) and The Zimbabwe Gazette (Online news publication about Zimbabwe) among others. tawakarombo@yahoo.co.uk

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