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Senior Reporter
Community radio stations are an important tool for development and should be established expeditiously, the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Media, Information and Broadcasting Services, has said.Committee member and legislator for Mazowe North Cde Edgar Chidavaenzi made the remarks on Thursday addressing advocates of community radios and media stakeholders during a community broadcasting conference held in Harare. “Community radio stations are essential tools for development. As parliamentarians we want community radios to operate as soon as possible,” Cde Chidavaenzi said.

He said community radios could be used to create employment and better the lives of people and promote other downstream economic activities.

Cde Chidavaenzi commended the Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services and the Information and Media Panel of Inquiry (IMPI) for doing a sterling job. “IMPI has done a good job in checking critical issues regarding to media reforms. IMPI has covered a lot of ground,” he said.

IMPI has completed its outreach phase and is expected to submit a report on its findings to Government soon. Media analyst Mr Takura Zhangazha said Government should urgently come up with a statutory instrument that outlines the requirements for applying for community radio licences and licencing fees.